Thursday, January 30, 2014

Travel Tails: Our New Sleepypod Air!

As you can see from the photo on the left, Paddy is SO over this Polar Vortex business. Currently, she is dreaming of palm trees, sunshine and counting down the days until our move. While we have yet to figure out all of the logistics, we DO know how she's going to be getting from coast to coast-- enter the awesome folks at Sleepypod and their awesome Sleepypod Air, Warmer and Yummy Bowl. Can we talk about how gorgeous the packaging is? AND- we are SO into the fact that the Sleepypod stores flat.


Even though our move isn't until later this year, it's looking like Paddy might be taking her 2nd plane trip a little bit sooner… stay tuned! In the meantime, we can't wait to get Paddy acclimated to her Sleepypod and test out the new gear- keep your eyes here for more detailed reviews!



Disclaimer: Sleepypod provided the above mentioned products for the purpose of review. For more information on our review policies, please click here

Saturday, January 25, 2014

January 2014 Barkbox Review


As you may know, we are long-time Barkbox subscribers. Don't ask, but I swear somehow Paddy knows when that box arrives that it's for her. We thought it might be helpful for those that are on the fence about signing up, some of the things we got in our January box.

Why do we Barkbox? While we live in NYC and there are a plethora of doggie products at our disposal, Barkbox brings all of this cool stuff to our door. Though it has been a little treat heavy for small dogs (and we've passed this feedback back to the powers that be), it's been nice to have a few new toys and goodies to change things up. ESPECIALLY since it has been freezing this winter, and Paddy has had a LOT of indoor time. (Yep, I am -that- pet parent.)


In the span of time since we got the box (aka yesterday), Paddy had already consumed the bullystick and we had lost the insert card, so we apologize that our picture isn't complete nor do we have the "official names" for one or two items. This month our small dog box contained a Harry Barker rope toy, a rubbery chew bone, Louisiana Alligator Jerky treats, and Barksters Sweet Potato & Beef Krisps (which may look so tasty that my husband may have asked to try them…).

To sign up, or gift, a Barkbox subscription, head to their website. It's also worthwhile noting that last year we spotted Barkbox subscriptions on sites like Fab.com, so keep your eyes peeled throughout the year for some additional saving opportunities! If you're already a subscriber, it's a good way to extend your subscription at a slight discount.

Friday, January 17, 2014

WOOF New York - Luxe Collars & Leashes

New year, new collar. Why not?

Especially when there are beautiful bespoke collars available from WOOF New York



Designed in NYC and made in the USA, WOOF offers hand-crafted Italian leather collars and leashes in a variety of colors and finishes for the discerning canine. Elegant enough for Park Avenue, but durable enough to survive the dog park, each accessory is fitted with solid brass hardware. In addition to being very reasonably priced considering the quality and craftsmanship of each piece, a portion of each sale is donated to the Best Friends Animal Society. Yay! 

Our favorite set? The Central Park Collar (from $59) and Leash (from $89) of course which come in a beautiful emerald green! And if green isn't your thing, there are seven other options to select from, all named after different NYC neighborhoods. Collars and leashes also are available in a variety of sizes for big and small dogs alike. 



Head over to their website to take a look and treat your pooch to a little New Year present. Why not? 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Bring Your Dog to Work 101


One of the perks of our "other" job is that our office is super pet friendly! So, when we're not on the road, we often bring Paddy in for the day. While bringing your dog to work can be a lot of fun, there's also an art to it, especially if you're doing it on a regular basis and thus need to be productive. Recently, a new dog has joined our office "pack"- and while he is ever-so cute and cuddly, his owners are still figuring out all the kinks on the days he comes to work. Here are some tips and tricks that we've picked up over the years.


Bed/Blanket: We work in an fairly open office space, and thus the only area that is really "ours" is a desk and the area underneath which we've converted into a little den area for Paddy (and our legs). All of her stuff goes under there when she's in the office so it's not infringing on anyone else's area. It also gives her a fair amount of privacy (don't forget, lots of new people and sounds can be overwhelming), and somewhere to go when she wants to nap.

Toys: Bring 'em. Or if you regularly bring your dog in, keep a stash in your desk. Pro Tip: Squeaker free is the way to go. We also try to stay stuffing-free. The key here is to find something that will quietly amuse your dog without disturbing your coworkers.

Leash: If your dog is well-behaved and "office trained," you may be okay with letting them roam free. That said, depending on how busy your workplace is, how easily distracted your dog is, etc. you may want to leash your desk to prevent unauthorized wanderings and lower the risk of accidents. (No joke, the new office dog may have left a surprise for the finance team yesterday…)

Food/Treats/Water: We leave a set of clean takeout containers at work that we use for food, water, and treats. All of them are air-tight which is nice and lets us keep extra snacks at our desk vs. bringing them with us for each visit. While we keep Paddy hydrated, we give her water every hour so we have a regular bathroom break schedule.

Hopefully the above tips are helpful. It's also important to note that while some offices may be dog friendly, not all dogs are office friendly. Dogs who don't do well with new experiences, suffer from anxiety (we once had a boss whose dog would FREAK OUT any time she wasn't visible…), and are not friendly should probably phone it in from home. Sad but true, and in the long run probably the best for both you, your coworkers, and your dog.

Is your office dog friendly?

Friday, January 3, 2014

Oscar de la Renta Goes to the Dogs!

Um. Oh my dog. Oscar de la Renta has launched two gooorrrgeeeouss pieces of pooch apparel. Swoooon. 

via OscarPRGirl on Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/itnwIBDuUq/

While these two plaid numbers are going to set you back a hefty sum ($250 for the black and ivory, $300 for the navy and black), we have a feeling they will be flying off shelves. A blend of wool and cashmere, the coats appear to be in limited sizes so if your dog is a medium or XXL, head there now!




Available now from OscardelaRenta.com.

California, Here We Come!


Soooo... in big 2014 news, the Barkistas are going to be relocating. Yes, it's sad but true-- we are going to be bidding farewell to NYC and headed to the West Coast! While it's been an amazing almost-seven years, we're looking forward to some sunshine and warm weather.

That said, when it's comes to our cross-country move, the first thing that came to mind was how Paddy was going to make the journey. While we've taken her on train and car trips, this is going to be the first time she's been on a plane since she arrived from the midwest. Though we have no doubts that she'll be an expert flyer, and we're probably more anxious about it than she will be, we are in the process of looking for airline friendly in-cabin carriers so we can start getting her acclimated and familiar with the bag. We've heard good things about the Sleepypod and Sherpa Bags, but aren't sure if there are other candidates we should be keeping in the mix.

How does your dog travel in style?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Beckky Board Review - Walk On Nail Filing Mat

Hi Barkistas!

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2014-- from what we can tell already, this is going to be a good one!

One of our New Year resolutions is to be better about getting Paddy's nails to a reasonable length. (Such an exciting resolution, right?) Since she's a mostly indoor dog (though this is soon to change, spoilers!), she doesn't get the usual wear and tear that helps to keep nails to a healthy length. While we are absolutely petrified about trimming them ourselves, we recently stumbled upon the Beckky Board.


A walk-over nail-filing mat for dogs, its abrasive surface helps to wear down your dog's nails every time they walk on it. Think of it as a giant sand-paper mat. Gentle enough that you can walk over it in bare feet, Paddy barely noticed it when we put it down for the first time. In fact, she actually enjoys playing with her toys on it since she doesn't slip around as much as on our wooden floors.

Since we're in a small apartment, finding the ideal spot for the Beckky Board has been a little tricky, but if you were in a "normal" home there are definitely lots of spots where it would get ideal traffic (ex. front door, between kitchen and living room). There are two sizes, and we've included a picture below of Paddy (who is currently 6lbs and 2oz) on her Beckky Board. We've currently got ours between our "living" and "dining" space, so she has to cross over it in its full length several times a day. We also play fetch in this area, which helps to get her running over it a few times.


According to the website, we should hope to see results in about two weeks or so. While ideally using the Beckky Board will help the quicks of her nails to recede, we'd settle for less trims. Paws crossed!

Available directly from their website, we received our board about a week after ordering it. And even better, it's made in the USA. Yay :)

How do you keep your dog's nails in check?

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