Friday, December 18, 2015

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffer - Minty Fresh Z Bones!


Need the perfect stocking stuffer for your pup? Check out these limited-edition Minty Fresh Z-Bones from Zuke's. Perfect for naturally freshening your doggy's breath, these bones do NOT contain wheat, gluten, cornstarch or synthetic cholorphyll. In addition to keeping your pup's mouth minty fresh, these dental chews help to polish teeth and massage gums.

Paddy is a big fan of the spearmint and fennel ingredients and has been working her way through her current bone for the past week. We love that these winter treats come individually wrapped (how cute would they look with a big bow!), and won't break the bank. In addition to sticking one or two in a stocking, they'd make the perfect little gifts for the dogs in your crew :)

Available for a limited time these treats are on shelves now at your local pet store!



Disclaimer: We were provided with samples for the purpose of review by Zuke's. For more information about our review policy, please visit our disclaimer page.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: For Fashionista Dog Lover


If you're like us, you can never have enough jewelry or dog-themed decor. These super cute Pampered Pups Jewelry Holders from Pottery Barn Teen meet both criteria and would make the perfect stocking stuffer for the glamorous dog lover in your life. 

They'd also make for a great Secret Santa gift! (Pssst, our favorite is the dalmatian bangle holder!)

Sold separately, ranging from $35-39, they're currently on sale! Available from PBTeen.com.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Sleepypod Cloudpuff Blanket


Greetings! We hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

It's getting chilly here in So-Cal (okay, so it's in the 60s…), which is why we are EXTRA grateful for Sleepypod's new Cloudpuff Blanket and it is a MUST-HAVE for our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide!

Featuring one super-soft and fluffy side and a micro-suede backing, the Cloudpuff comes in two shades of brown and two sizes (medium and large). The medium is definitely sized for smaller dogs, and it fits very comfortably inside of our Sleepypod Air.  It did not take up too much space when laid flat on the bottom, and we also really liked how it could be easily folded up to double as a bolster or pillow.


While the Cloudpuff is intended as a travel accessory, we've also been bringing it with us to pilates (yes, Paddington comes with us to pilates…), as a cozy place for Paddy to sit and do her yoga stretches.  Our pilates studio has hard wood floors, and the micro suede side of the blanket prevents it from slipping around which is nice.


The Cloudpuff is also surprisingly easy to clean: we put ours in the washer on the hand wash cycle and then air-dried it, and it came out looking and feeling like new!


With the holidays right around the corner, this would make the perfect present for any road warrior pooch in your life. Available now from Sleepypod's website for $29.99.



Disclaimer: We received this item in exchange for a fair and honest review. For more information about our review policy, please visit our disclaimer page.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Pet Holiday Travel Packing List 2015

Like many folks, we are hitting the road this holiday and venturing cross-country to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. Since Paddington will be joining us (of course!), we wanted to share you our favorite travel must-haves and packing list. 


  1. Pet Carrier. An airline approved travel carrier. We are HUGE fans of the Sleepypod Air. We also own a Sleepypod Atom, which we prefer for shorter trips, but since we'll be taking a long plane ride want to make sure Paddy has more space to stretch out. You can read our review of both carriers here
  2. Travel Blanket. While Paddy actually doesn't mind traveling in the Sleepypod without any extra padding, since we're headed to colder climates, we're definitely going to be including the Sleepypod Cloudpuff Blanket, which is a new product for the brand. Our full travel review will follow, but we love that it is compact, snuggly, and the perfect size to put inside of our Air. 
  3. Travel dish. Though you'll have to purchase water AFTER security and you'll probably want to limit your pup's snacks and drinks while in transit, a travel bowl is very handy. We love this collapsable bowl from Good2Go, which we picked up at our local Petco. 
  4. SNACKS! We always try to pick in-flight travel snacks that will not leave Paddy searching for water, so nothing too salty and no chews. This trip we're packing the Zuke's Mini Naturals Pumpkin treats we recently reviewed (obviously, it being Thanksgiving and all), and these I Love and You Venison and Lamb bites. Love that both packages are re-sealable and can pack pretty flat. Don't forget to also pack enough of your dog's regular food for when you get to your destination! 
  5. Wipes. Messes can happen. We received these little travel-sized wipes in a Barkbox and love that we can attach them onto Paddy's carrier for easy access. 
  6. "Quiet Toys" - Normally we try to pick something that is not fluff-filled or going to disturb our in-flight neighbors. While Paddy doesn't typically play with them while in transit, she'll often use one as a pillow and I think likes to have something familiar with her on the road. We picked up this cute Thanksgiving themed toy from the Barkbox Shop though I think it is now sold out.
  7. Leash, harness + poop bags. The basics, obviously. When you take your dog out of their carrier to go through security, it's a good idea to have them leashed just in case. We typically un-harness and un-leash for the actual flight itself (since she's in her carrier), but you're definitely going to need all of these accessories when you walk pre and post flight. 

Hope this packing list is helpful-- safe travels this holiday season!

Did we forget anything? What is in your dog's travel bag? 



Disclaimer: We received some items mentioned in this post for the purpose of review. For more information regarding our review/sample policy, please visit our disclaimer page.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Zuke's Mini Naturals Pumpkin Patch Dog Treats

Can you believe it? Turkey day is right around the corner!

One of the trends we're loving is the move by companies to make limited-edition seasonal treats for our four-legged friends. After all, variety is the spice of life - no?


Just in time for this turkey-heavy time of year, Zuke's has put a new flavor of their popular soft snack-sized treats out on shelves. Pumpkin Patch Mini Naturals feature a delicious turkey and pumpkin recipe made from quality, lean protein. Containing pumpkin (one of those powerhouse veggies!), these treats are rich in carotenoids, beta-­carotene, alpha-­carotene, fiber, zinc, iron, vitamin A and potassium. Pumpkin is also known to be great for helping to correct diarrhea and constipation in dogs.

Don't mind if I do….

Personally, we're big fans - we like to spoil Paddy by varying her diet seasonally. While she definitely gets some canine friendly table snacks around the holidays, Zuke's Minis make it easier to control the portion size and feel confident that what she's eating is doggy diet/stomach appropriate. These soft treats are also great for reinforcing training since they weigh in at less than 4 calories per treat and can easily be broken into tiny morsels.

So, the real moment of truth… was Paddy a fan? YES! She definitely was interested in these treats from the moment we opened the bag.

Look! They're cute pumpkin shapes too! 
Available now on shelves from your local pet-retailer or online from Chewy.com.

What are your pet's favorite holiday treats? 



Disclaimer: We were provided with samples by Zuke's for the purpose of review. For more information about our review policy, please visit our Disclaimer page.

Monday, November 9, 2015

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Frontgate Faux Fur Jacket for Dogs

Image via Amazon.com

It's that time of year again... Oprah has just released her holiday gift guide, which this year, includes several picks for the furry friends in your life. While in general we agree with O's taste, we can't decide how we feel about this faux fur jacket for Fido from Frontgate. While Paddington definitely does need a coat when it gets cold outside, we can't decide if it's fabulous for a pet to wear faux fur or not. It does look delightfully cozy, albeit a little odd....

If this piece of pet couture tickles your fancy, it's available with Prime shipping from Amazon for $39. Sizes range from small to XL and the coat is offered in either chinchilla or channeled mink (our personal pick).

What do you think? Would your pet accessorize with a faux fur coat?

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

2015 Holiday Gift Guide - PrideBites Customized Blanket

Oh my goodness - look at this cuteness!

"Oh my gosh, that's me!"
Our custom PrideBites blanket arrived in the mail earlier this week, and we're still getting over just how PERFECT it is! Not only is it super snuggly (and a great size for travel or lounging on her mat), but the likeness of our beloved Paddington is so spot on!

Hands down, this would make a perfect gift for the special dog and dog lover in your life. To get started, head to PrideBites' website, and they'll walk you through the process of choosing your custom fabrics and uploading the necessary glamour shots. There are lots of options and patterns to pick from, so each blanket truly feels customized.

Blankets on average cost about $50, and shipping takes a few weeks, so get those holiday orders in sooner vs. later!

Please excuse the mess!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Pizza Rat Dog Costume!

This year, we've been a little disappointed with some of the dog costumes out there for Halloween 2015. Fortunately, we found inspiration from a viral video snapped in our former hometown of NYC…


Introducing, Paddington Pizza Rat!!!


While we didn't go totally home-made on this one (sighhhh, I still don't know how to use a sewing machine), we did find/source the parts.

Here's what you'll need for your Pizza Rat costume:

1. Children's sized mouse accessories: We found this set on Amazon and then modified the tail and head piece for Paddington. Depending on how big your dog is, you could probably use adult sized accessories as well, or something that comes on a headband. We did like that this one uses an elastic which we were able to secure to Paddy's collar for a snug fit. The tail we attached using a bobby pin.

2. Pizza toy: While you could use a real piece of pizza… you'd have to snap those photos pretty fast (and I'm fairly confident that pizza is not good for humans or dogs). There are several variations on pizza themed dog toys out there -- again, Amazon has a fairly good selection. We went with the 8" slice from PrideBites, which was the perfect scale for Paddy.


We still can't help but giggle looking at these photos- Paddy really is the perfect little pizza monster. While we're not sure our fellow Californians will get it, we know the New Yorkers will :) Are you dressing your pup up this year?

Monday, October 12, 2015

Barkzilla Reader Giveaway: Just Right by Purina + PrideBites!

We are super excited to announce that we are hosting a very special Barkzilla reader giveaway in celebration of Pet Wellness Month courtesy of Just Right by Purina and PrideBites!


Last month, the Just Right team surprised us with an amazing care package on National Dog Day, and now they're letting us share a special gift with one of our readers! One lucky winner will receive  free order Just Right by Purina personalized dog food (up to $68.95 value) and a $50 PrideBites gift card!

Thanks Just Right for this awesome portrait of Paddy! 
Not familiar with Just Right? It's an amazing offering from Purina that is personalized based on your dog's needs! We've blogged about how great we think it is (here), and also been one of their featured Bloggers of the Month! They also introduced us to PrideBites which offers super cool customized swag for your dog - we recently received a gift card which we used towards a snuggle blanket for Paddington and cannot wait to see how it turns out! They also have adorable toys and clothes for dogs of all sizes. 

Here's how to enter: 


Winners will be announced within 24 hours of the giveaway end (10/26/16 12:00 AM ET), and don't forget you can enter every day! Good luck!



Disclaimer: This post is about a giveaway that has been sponsored by Just Right by Purina and PrideBites. We received compensation for hosting this giveaway on behalf of the sponsors.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Henri Bendel Canine Collection Fall 2015

Henri Bendel has expanded their canine collection and introduced a few new goodies for fall.


The pièce de résistance of the collection is their new Luxury Pet Carrier, which is crafted from Saffiano leather and folds down into a play mat. Featuring a terry cloth pad/cushion, it can hold up to an 11 pound doggy fashionista. (We were a little bit surprised that they went with a terry cloth pad vs. something more plush, like a fleece or sheepskin.)


While it will break the bank at $448 + tax, you can add your own customized monogram, which got us thinking what initials we'd roll with... after all, we've never given much thought to Paddy's middle name... Anyhow. Besides the price, our other concern is weight - while I'm not too familiar with the leather in question, that could make the bag a little on the hefty side to start with without your bestie inside.



On the more budget friendly side ($48), HB also is offering their take on the poop bag holder, "The West 57th Dog Baggie" in pink or black which hides your doggy's bags inside a chic looking pouch. We love the look, but probably not the hassle of having to unsnap the container each time we need a bag. It's also not clear if the roll snaps into anything inside the pouch or if it's just loose, which could spell disaster. (Seriously... who designed this?)

If we were to indulge ourselves in anything from HB's Fall Collection, it would be this Packable Dog Bowl, which folds up into a nice little wallet sized thingy. Though expensive (again $48... that seems to be Henri Bendel's magic number), it is compact and definitely very cute with their trademark brown and white stripes. The outside is leather and the inside bowls are coated canvas. 



What luxuries do you indulge your dog in?

Friday, September 18, 2015

Bissell SpotBot Pet Review

This review really should be entitled, "My Best Friend is a Carpet Cleaning Robot."


First off, I want to be clear - we were NOT compensated for this post. We spent our own cold hard cash on this purchase, and its was worth every cent.

Even the best-trained, most-housebroken dog, will have the occasional indoor accident. And trust us, the only sadder thing than your dog having a stomach bug is cleaning up the symptoms...

One of our neighbors recommended the Bissell SpotBot Pet to us earlier this summer when we were on the hunt to find something to help keep our carpet clean. While we used to be hardcore fans of Nature's Miracle, we found it was leaving some weird residue on our carpet (blame our building for installing super cheap flooring, sigh). Neighbors, who have a puppy, swore by their SpotBot, and since we had a 20% off Bed Bath and Beyond coupon we picked one up earlier this summer.

Our magic duo! 

It has been a godsend. Not only has it removed older "surprise" stains we've discovered, but it works amazingly well on fresh stains. We use a combination of the Pet Stain & Odor and OxyClean formulas in our cleaner, and it has lifted everything out of our carpets 100% of the time. In addition to getting out the yucky, it also removes dirty and all kinds of other gross things you can't see -- case in point, check out the nasty water that will be left over. We vacuum religiously and the water is still an awful dark color. Ewwww...

Featuring a combination of brushes that deep clean into the fibers of your carpet, the SpotBot Pet also has a hose attachment you can use for hard to reach places or extra scrubbing. We have yet to try it out, but it's on our list of Fall Cleaning activities. 



Super compact and light enough to easily haul around apartment, once I get started cleaning the carpets I can't stop... It's also worked wonders on non-pet related stains (hello carpet, meet coffee...).

Doing a quick search, it looks like Jet.com is currently offering this model at a super good price ($107). BB&B also tends to regularly have coupons, which also can be used towards the purchase of this product.

What do you use to keep your carpets looking clean?

Monday, September 14, 2015

Halloween Dog Treats 2015


Readers of this blog may already know that here at Barkzilla, we take Halloween VERY seriously. Now that Labor Day weekend has come and gone, it's time for us to start preparing! Much to our delight, this year several dog treat manufacturers are releasing special Halloween themed treats! YUM! While pumpkin seems to be the predominant flavor, we are such suckers for holiday packaging and there are some of the best from our favorite brands!


We are HUGE Bocce's Bakery fans and are thrilled to see they've released a limited-edition Spooky Pumpkin flavor for Halloween! These treats are all-natural and feature pumpkin, peanut butter and cinnamon.

$4.99 from Petco.




These super cute little mini Ghost treats from Zuke's come in ghost shapes and are perfectly sized to work as training treats. Made from their turkey and pumpkin recipe, these little snack packs would make super cute trick or treating treats for the dogs in your neighborhood that won't break the bank!

$2.29 for a small pack at Petco.



These Boo Bars from Blue Buffalo don't have any scary ingredients in them. Baked with pumpkin, carrots, oatmeal, barley, flaxseed and cinnamon, these treats are healthy and crunchy!

$4.99 from Petco or Chewy.com.




Pumpkin spice seems to be the flavor du jour and is everywhere! Fruitables is jumping on the bandwagon this year with their Pumpkin Spice Skinny Minis. Will 2.5 calories per chewy treat, they're great for training and little in-between meal surprises.

$4.00 from Petco.



Do you spoil your pet with Halloween treats?

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Just Right by Purina Featured Blogger!

Hey look! We're the Blogger of the Month over at the Just Right by Purina Blog! Make sure to check out our post for some of our favorite tips to ensure that your dog is living their best life at any age.



Hope you enjoy!


p.s. Do you recognizing that cute looking model in the right hand pane?

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

MAC Haute Dogs Collection - Fall 2015

So I know we're a little late to the game.... but we couldn't resist blogging about the latest Haute Dogs Fall 2015 Collection from MAC Cosmetics. While we're not really sure we get the inspiration, the shades are pretty and the accompanying press photos are a hoot. It's also the perfect intersection of this blog and our past life (yep, I used to work in the luxury cosmetics PR world, but that's a whole other blog in itself).  Even those this hit shelves and the internet a little while back, most of the collection is still available online or from various retailers.



Haute Dogs includes a variety of canine inspired glosses, eye shadows and polishes including our favorites - "Dressed to the K9s" a "deep burgundy plum" lip gloss and the plum-y "Pure Bred" Eye Shadow palette. Both are still for purchase on MAC's website.


I'm pretty sure that MAC had a cat inspired set a few years ago, so it only seems fitting that the dogs are finally getting their day! What do you think of this collection?

Friday, August 14, 2015

American Airlines Announces "Cuddle Class" - A Review

So this has been a CRAZY busy summer, which is why you haven't heard much from us. However, we do have some exciting news we hope to share soon!

In the meantime, while crawling the inter-webs, we stumbled upon this interesting news item -- "American Airlines Announces First Class Cabin for Pets." Of course, we had to further investigate... which we did... only to discover that Paddington has already in fact traveled "Cuddle Class." While it's billed as a luxury way to travel with your pets, in reality, it's a fancy way of saying "FAA rules require us to stow your pet in a storage closet for take off and landing when you travel with a lie flat bed." While that is totally OK, our frustration stems from the fact that we feel like "Cuddle Class" is being billed as something it really isn't.

Courtesy of American Airlines

You may ask, "why are you so fired up about this?" Well... flashback to a trip we did last Thanksgiving where we used miles to fly first class from LAX to JFK. We were surprised to learn that Paddy would have to ride in her carrier in the closet for take off and landing once we boarded the plane. Yep, there was no advance information about this requirements. You're allowed to have an infant in arms for take off and landing... you are not allowed to hold your dog's carrier for safety reasons.

While your pet may not mind being put in a storage closet with a small ventilation window for take off and landing.... they may, like Paddington. She's flown with us several times, and as long as her carrier is near us, she won't make a peep. Put in her a closet... and well, sorry first class cabin... I guess there's a reason they pass out noise canceling headphones? Also, take off and landing, especially if you're flying LAX to JFK or SFO to JFK can mean that your dog is in the "box" or "Cuddle Class" for up to 40 minutes on either end. As soon as preparations begin for take off and landing, your dog goes into the closet.

From what we could discern, the box is neither lit, nor has any air vents. Your pet also cannot see you from the angle of the vents. There was also a crazy amount of static charge - when we got Paddy back, her fur was sticking up on end, and she was definitely not happy.

We also apologized profusely to everyone else in the cabin for disturbing their trip, and felt awful. Needless to say, this requirement also made our travel experience really less enjoyable too as we were stressed out about putting her in and out of "Cuddle Class."

Wait... I have to travel WHERE?! Snapped pre-"Cuddle Class" boxing... 
So... anyway, we apologize for the little bit of a rant, but only felt it fair to share our experience. We are definitely loyal American Airlines passengers, but this new "Cuddle Class" requirement has meant we've taken our business for trans-continental flights to another carrier that will allow Paddy to ride next to our seats. Paddy is truly a mellow dog and used to travel, but we feel awful that "Cuddle Class" stresses her out and also disturbs our fellow passengers.

Would love to hear if anyone else has a similar experience?

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