Monday, December 29, 2014

New Year's Resolutions - 2015!

Does this dog look motivated for 2015? 
'tis that time of year again… time to start writing down those resolutions!

2015 is going to be the year of doggy dental hygiene here in our home. While Paddy has very good teeth for a dog of her age, we've decided to get really focused on preventative care. Fortunately for us, she doesn't mind having her teeth brushed - if anything it's really just getting in the habit of doing it 2-3x's a week.

While we do still use a pet toothbrush, we've lately switched over to the Arm & Hammer Dental Wipes for quick in-between cleans. They're nice and small, and you can easily wrap them around a finger.

Our second resolution is to be more vigilant about what we're feeding Paddy. Over the past year we've spent a lot of time looking at ingredient lists and the origins of her treats, and it's kind of scary. We're also not convinced that one-size fits all when it comes to dog food, which is why we've added a custom blend from Purina's JustRight brand to Paddy's diet. Not only do we love the transparency into the ingredients and where it's made, but we also love that we can customize her blend based on her activity level and needs. We're part of their pet blogger program, and really appreciate all of the info they've provided us with about the importance of a healthy diet for your dog or cat.

What are your pet's 2015 pet resolutions?

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Plush Luxe Pet Beds

So, how much is too much to spend on a bed for your furry friend? 


We ask this question, because we've got our eye on this super luxe pet bed from Plush. What makes their pet beds different is the "nestable" pillow surface inside that allows Fido to snuggle and adjust everything to his/her liking. (We've all seen our dog do that weird digging/turning/circle thing before settling down for a nap, right?)

Ringing up at $132.95 for the small, it's somewhat of an investment, but we kind of secretly know that Paddy would love it... and we are particularly enamored with the Madeleine, with its sophisticated (but girly) combo of pink and grey.


That said, Paddy has kind of a similar setup now - though by no means as glamorous, which probably cost us less than $20 which seems to be just fine.


I guess our little pup can keep dreaming :)

How much have you spent on your dog's bed? What is the most you would fork out? 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Royal Canin Holiday Pet Food Drive

One of the best parts of the holiday season is that there are so many opportunities to give back! Royal Canin and Banfield Charitable Trust have joined together to help feed hungry pets with their 9th annual holiday pet food drive. From now through December 24th, there are two ways you can participate:

#1: Post on our Social Channels
Share a snapshots of a pet on Royal Canin's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/royalcanin), Twitter @RoyalCanin or Instagram @RoyalCainUS. For each submission, 20 pounds of food will be donated and participants are automatically entered to win a one of twelve prizes from Royal Canin all month long.

#2: Donate through Banfield Charitable Trust/Hospitals
Visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org or one of the 870+ Banfield Pet Hospitals to make a food or financial donation to the Meals on Wheels pet food programs. For each monetary donation of $10 or more, KONG® will donate a toy to the pet of a Meals on Wheels client.

Royal Canin is committed to making a 60,000-pound pet food donation this year, so start posting/tweeting/snapping those pics!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Dog Gift Guide 2014

Stumped on what to get the very deserving pup in your life? Check out Paddy's 2014 holiday wish list for a little inspiration! At this rate, she's going to need a bigger stocking….

For the four-legged foodie: Peppermint Bark Biscuits from Bocce's Bakery


What could be more delicious than a bag of biscuits from Bocce's Bakery? Featuring all of the wholesome ingredients they're known for, and made in small batches, these treats notes of apples, cranberries and of course, peppermint! $9.50 for a bag, $15.50 for a tin, available from Bocce's Bakery's website. 



The name really says it all. This ultra luxury pet bench features a super soft and fluffy cushion for optimal napping and lounging. $2,975, available from MacKenzie and Childs website



Available in delightful scents like Lavender and Chamomile and "Happy Jasmine," this set contains everything you need to create a day at the spa for the pampered pet in your life. Includes Shampoo/Conditioner, an aromatherapy candle, and an in-between bath spray. Available in a variety of scent sets ($39), and as individual products from PupLife.com

For the technology hound: FitBark Fitness and Activity Tracker


While it doesn't include a GPS, FitBark is a FitBit for your pet. Track and monitor your pup's fitness and activity, measure their progress and behavior against other similar dogs, and get real-time updates sent to your phone via their mobile app. While it has yet to hit shelves, you can pre-order yours now from FitBark's website for $99


For the playful pooch: Walter the Rabbit



There are very few toys in the Barkzilla residence that have stuck around for more than a few weeks. Walter the Rabbit is one of the much loved. Though he has since lost his squeaker, his seams have held up during many hours of tug of war and fetch. Walter and his friends are available for $19.99 from Barker and Meowsky.


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pet Travel Tips 2014

This is how we roll: Sleepypod Air and Found My Dog Leash

It seems like more and more dogs are flying the friendly skies these days! Paddy is now officially a member of the canine jet-set and done the cross-country trip twice! Traveling with your pooch for the first time can be a bit harrowing, so we thought we'd share a few tips in the hopes that they'll be helpful for others.

- An airline friendly, comfy carrier is a must. We absolutely swear by our Sleepypod Air (you can find our review here). Not only does it provide excellent ventilation and visibility, but it also comfortably fits under the seat in front of you, even if you're stuck in a middle seat (sighhh). Because Paddy is only around 6.5 lbs, there is also ample room for her to move, stretch and sprawl. The Sleepypod also comfortably fits over the handle of a rolling suitcase, which is extra handy when you're juggling tickets, bags and an ID at the airport.

- Lookup your airport's pet relief areas in advance. We went all 1990's and even printed them out. Seriously, so clutch.

Lookup your airline's pet restrictions/rules/regulations. Fact: if you are flying first class on planes with lie-flat seats, your dog CANNOT sit next to you. This may cause both you and your pup anxiety… thus it's a good idea to check this out in advance.

- Make a reservation for your pet. Most airlines require you to call in advance and make a reservation for your pet as there is a limit to the number of animals allowed in the cabin.

- Treats. We selected some of Paddy's favorites to keep her happy on the journey, just make sure to choose something that does not create a huge mess, or generate a lot of thirst.

- Hydrate. While guzzling water before a 6 hour flight is probably not a great idea, make sure to pack a little travel bowl to help keep your pup comfortable.

Wipes, extra bags, etc. We filled a giant ziplock with extras/backups of things that we may need in case we got delayed. Keep it in your carry on bag.

- Toys and Blanket. The floor of the plane can sometimes get a bit cool, especially if the plane is blasting AC. We packed a little hoodie for Paddy along with one of her favorite blankets, as well as her toy bunny (which she used as a pillow, no joke). Things that smell nice and familiar can be soothing :)

And finally, it never hurts to talk to your vet. If you are nervous about your dog traveling for the first time, or know that they're not fans of the road, your vet may be able to help prescribe something to keep them calm.

How often do you hit the road with your pooch?

Monday, December 1, 2014

Fruitables Snowflake Dog Treats & Cloudstar Gingerbread Men!

Nom. It's holiday treat time!

Two of our favorite brands have introduced limited edition special treats to spoil that nice (or naughty) pooch in your life.


We have to admit, we're fascinated by these Vanilla Snowflake Treats from Fruitables. Made with REAL snowflakes from the Rockies, each pouch contains over 300 "sustainably harvested" (haha) snowflakes. Combined with pumpkin granola and yogurt, each crunchy treat has only 9 calories making it a more sensible indulgence.

Here are the folks at Fruitables harvesting their snowflakes!

Fruitables Snowflake Dog Treats from Fruitables on Vimeo.

This season, the folks over at Cloudstar have added Gingerbread as a flavor to their popular Buddy Biscuit line. Available in XXL gingerbread man biscuits, soft & chewy and regular crunchy, Buddy Biscuits are made in the USA and are corn free. We are particularly partial to the giant gingerbread man, which in our opinion would make for an excellent stocking stuffer. 



All treats featured are available from your local pet stores and online from sites like Amazon.com. Does your dog have any favorite holiday treats? 

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Bocce's Bakery Introduces Sunday Roast Biscuits!

Even though it's not exactly sweater weather in California, we're dreaming of Sundays spent by the fire, cozy knit scarves and the smell of wet leaves. Sigh.


NYC-based Bocce's Bakery's new Sunday Roast biscuits makes us think of all of those things. (It also makes us really miss New York, *sniff*.) These all-natural organic biscuits include 100% USA roasted chicken, fresh rosemary, and carrots in one tasty bone-shaped treat.

Paddy is a huge fan of all of the treats from the Bocce's Bakery line, and we can't wait to get our paws on a bag of these yummies.

Available in 5oz bags ($9.50) or 8oz biscuit tins ($15.50) from the Bocce's Bakery website.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Henri Bendel Dog for Fall 2014

While we're no longer just a quick cab ride away from one of our favorite NYC shops, that doesn't mean we can't window show Henri Bendel online. It's been a while since they've updated their canine line, but it looks like they've made a few additions for fall. Check it out:


Fall showers got you down? Brighten up a rainy day with these adorable City Slicker Packable Rain Coat that packs away into a convenient little zipped pouch. Love the polka dots and stripes! With a zippable little pouch on the back when it's opened up, this coat is functional and fashionable. Too bad it doesn't ever rain here in California…


Perfect for making each meal a fancy affair, this ceramic dog-bone shaped bowl can also double as a treat dish/container. 



And why not ensure that all of your pooch's accessories match by picking up the Sleeping in Stripes dog bed. Featuring Henri Bendel's iconic stripes on one side (and dark brown fabric on the other), it's the right size for a small to medium pup. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

TailMix Grilled Sirloin Burgers - A Review

It is very rare in this household that we finish a bag of treats. It's not that we want to be wasteful (in fact, we often end up sharing the leftovers with our other canine pals), but what it comes down to is our Morkie is a super fussy eater. (My husband claims she gets this from me…. that is up for debate)

However, the ONE treat that never goes turned down are TailMix's Grilled Sirloin Burgers. Grain and gluten free, these treats are basically freeze dried little patties of USDA certified hormone free ground beef sirloin from Washington state. Made in the USA, you can serve them as is, crumble them on top of your pup's food or even rehydrate for a softer texture.

While Paddy is a big fan of the flavor (I swear she can hear the bag open from across the apartment), we love the transparency into what is in these treats. They're also the perfect size for special rewards (a little bit bigger than a quarter, but smaller than a half dollar). We were going to try and take a photo of Paddy with said treat to provide a sense of size… but she was overwhelmed by the deliciousness before we could snap a pic.

Available from national pet stores and online from Chewy.com. One bag lasts us about a month and a half.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Kickstarter: Schnuzzle


Kickstarter is one of our favorite things, and we can always rely on it to deliver products we didn't even know we needed to our inbox. Recently, we got pinged about a new project out of Australia called Schnuzzle. Instead of rewarding your pets with treats, pets playing with Schnuzzle get a burst of delicious dog-friendly scent. While we're on the fence about whether this is actually as satisfying as the folks at Schnuzzle suggest…. we like the concept and the way the Schnuzzle looks.



While the project is being driven out of Australia, there is free-shipping for all those backers based in the USA. We also are big fans of the fact that all parts are being made in Australia or the USA. Head over to Kickstarter and check it out!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Just Right by Purina


We were recently invited to blog about the latest innovation in pet nutrition from Purina. Introducing, Just Right by Purina - a personalized dog food that combines an owners' first-hand knowledge of their dog and Purina's nutrition research to create the perfect blend to meet your dog's needs. Using information gleaned from specific questions about your dog's age, activity level, health, and body condition, Just Right by Purina then delivers your pooch's custom kibble straight to your front door.

For those pets that have grain or protein sensitivities, owners can also note this- taking the guess work out of what really byproducts could be going into your dog's food.



So, how does it work? It's super simple - head over to JustRightPetFood.com and create a profile for your pet. Next, answer questions about your dog to create your personalized blend, and voila! If you have any questions, Just Right by Purina has live experts on hand via online, chat or email to help.

As a pet parent who pays close attention to what her pup eats, I personally love the idea of knowing what -exactly- is in Paddy's kibble. We love that Paddy's specific needs can also be taken into account, and you can customize each order if necessary (ex. in winter we fight dry skin more frequently). Also, did we mention that all Just Right by Purina custom blends are made in the USA? Yup- in Iowa!


Starting at $24.99 for a 6lb bag (which is on par with the cost of most high-end dry dog food), shipping is included and owners can setup auto-fulfillment.

We are definitely looking forward to checking this out in more detail (as of now I'm traveling on the road for work a lot, so we're not going to mess with Paddy's current diet). What do you think? Is a custom blend of dog food something you'd do for your pup? 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Halloween Dog Costumes 2014 - The Good, The Bad and The Scary…

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, but this year we are totally lacking inspiration when it comes to Paddy's costume for 2014. Cruising the web has not unfortunately helped much… it seems like a lot of what's out there is totally just phoned in, if you know what I mean…

Case in point:
Seriously? What the heck is this?

While we were really hoping to get our act together and do something homemade, with Halloween right around the corner (okay, so like three weeks), that doesn't seem likely. Thus we're sussing out what's available online, and here are some of our favorite options: 

Does your dog have a furry face? Yes? Well then this Ewok costume might be right up their alley. 

Available across the web, but we found it at Amazon.com

Nothing is more bizarre than animals dressing up as other animals…. thus there is a special place in our heart for this Octo-hound costume. Also ringing at less than $20 on this site, it's not going to break the bank. 


This costume, is unfortunately sold out, but is probably one of the greatest Howl-o-ween dog costumes we've seen. Yes, that's a piñata. Doubtful that t will come back into stock before Halloween, but we found it online here. For those that are crafty, there's also a great DIY post on this blog on how to make your own piñata costume if you are that way inclined. 


Sherlock Hound is just too adorable for words. A little on the pricier side, but it's pretty cute.



Personally, we've always thought Paddy would make a cute ballerina, so that's the current direction we're heading… stay tuned, we'll let you know how it's looking...

Is your dog dressing up this Halloween? What has inspired you?

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A Day at the Dog Beach: Leo Carrillo State Park

Believe it or not, dog friendly beaches in the Los Angeles area can be a little hard to come by. While the California coast is basically one giant beach, there are really only two spots to check out if you want to soak up the sun with your pup. As Paddy has never been to the beach before, you can imagine that this was at the top of our "things to do" list, and thus we headed to Leo Carrillo State Park on a recent sunny weekend.


Situated about a 35-40 minute drive North of Santa Monica along the Pacific Coast Highway, Leo Carrillo State Park is 1.5 miles of beautiful California coast. After paying entrance/parking, head to the 2nd parking lot along the beach road for dog-on-leash beach time! (Yep, sadly, there was no off-leash fun to be had, but in many ways felt like this was for the best/safer.)

Despite the large number of people (and dogs), we were impressed at how clean the beach was; everyone was doing a nice job of picking up after themselves and their pooches. LOTS and LOTS of dogs - big dogs, small dogs, fluffy dogs... they were all there and having an awesome time. In fact, almost everyone we saw at this part of the beach had a dog in tow. The beach is by no means huge (in fact it's definitely narrow), but there was more than enough space for everyone to lie out, play in the water, etc.


Though Paddy was not super keen about the ocean, she had a great time playing in the sand and meeting some of the local dog pack.

Location: 35000 Pacific Coast Highway
Details: Dogs on leashes are welcome NORTH of Tower 3 (head to the 2nd parking lot)
Cost: Parking was less than $15 which is a steal, especially if you're planning on spending all day at the beach!
Amenities: There are public bathrooms, but we did not see any places to purchase water, etc. so make sure to bring everything with you! There were a lot of folks BBQing and tail-gating, so check out the website for details as to what's approved.

See you at the beach!

 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Hi From the West Coast

Look at that glamour puss! 
Greetings from CA! Yup, we made it and we missed you too!

Things have been super quiet on the blog of late as we have spent the last few months focused on packing, moving and getting settled, so thanks for your patience! Though we are desperately missing NYC (especially since it's our favorite season, Fall), a new city has meant lots of super fun adventures and finds for the urban canine in our life. Keep your eyes peeled for lots more great stuff and some Los Angeles-local reviews.

Monday, April 14, 2014

PB Teen Divine Canine Catch-Alls

Pottery Barn Teen is one of those secret sites that we like to occasionally peruse for home storage ideas/knick-knacks. While some of the décor is more suited to teens (duh), we sometimes stumble upon great finds like these "Divine Canine Catch-Alls."

At $38 apiece, the won't break the bank, but are clearly perfect for dog lovers who are looking for a cute way to store change, jewelry, etc. Though there is no Morkie option, we are partial to all three!


Available online and possibly in stores. 


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Henri Bendel Dog Collection

We want EVERYTHING from the new Henri Bendel canine collection. As any New Yorker will tell you, the HB brown and white stripes are iconic-- and now your pup can sport them too! The must-have from their canine department refresh is definitely this sporty canvas tote (perfect for summer!). Not only does it have nice long handles (which if you tote your dog around + a million other things, you'll know are ESSENTIAL), but it's also incredibly reasonably priced at $68.


This chic collar ($68) also caught our eye- love the cute bow!

While we're at it, we may as well also throw in a tin of these delicious looking treats - why not?


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