Pet.doc

Neat and organized doesn’t come easy to the Barkistas. While we definitely operate best in a state of “managed” chaos, there are some things you do want to keep organized. The Pet.doc binder is a great way to keep Fido’s important papers (you know, the dog house mortgage, AMEX bills, etc.), where you’ll be able to find them. With pre-made sections for pet history, medical history, insurance, training and care, it makes filing super easy. And, unlike a filing cabinet, it is also very portable at approximately 9.5” by 7.5”.
 

Pick one up for your pup today at SeeJaneWork.com for $8.00 ( we know, it’s awesome deal).

xoxo The Barkistas

Go for a Walk with Robbie Dawg

Get 'em while you can-- Robbie Dawg's Let's Go For a Walk tins are available for $3.99!

This Brooklyn-based bakery prides itself on using fresh, organic ingredients and promises NO wheat, corn, soy, added sugar or salt, artificial ingredients, preservatives, tans fat, artificial colors/flavors or MSG. (Whew- that's a mouthful!) These delightful tins hold 3oz of treats in yummy flavors like Honey BBQ Chicken, Real Brooklyn Pizza, Peanut Butter Carrot and Turkey Sausage & Romano Cheese.


We picked up a tin of the Honey BBQ Chicken treats on our last G.W. Little order, and so far no complaints from our picky little pup! They're also perfectly-sized for small dogs, which means no crumby messes at treat time. At just $3.99 each, there's no excuse for heading over to Robbie Dawg's site and stocking up! 


xoxo The Barkistas

2nd Annual Puppy Prom!

Dust off those tiaras and tails: The Salty Paw is hosting its 2nd annual Puppy Prom on Tuesday, July 20th from 6-8 PM at 38 Peck Slip at the South Street Seaport.

Dogs and their human dates/chaperones are invited to join Andrea Arden for a fun-filled evening sponsored by great sponsors like Stella & Chewy’s and Sexy Beast, to support Posh Pets Rescue which helps rescue, rehabilitate and place homeless animals. Even if your pup isn’t crowned Prom Queen or King, they can still come out a winner— great prizes like a custom portrait of your dog, or a doggy make-over, will be up for grabs during the event’s raffle, and yes, there will be cake (yes, for dogs & hopefully humans!).

We attended the Puppy Prom last year and had a great time-- The Salty Paw is one of our favorite doggy shops in NYC, and the event is a fab opportunity to mingle with fellow Barkistas for a good cause.

What will your pup be wearing?

xoxo The Barkistas

p.s. While you’re in your Barkista’s closet grab any old leashes and harnesses— The Salty Paw will be collecting them leading up to/the night of the event to donate to Posh Pets Rescue. 

As any Barkista knows, in New York City, it's all about your bag....

Poop-- a necessary evil of dog-companionship, and something us city Barkistas deal with on a daily basis. Though we might assume that picking up after our pups is being responsible, consider this: while poop is totally bio-degradable, the plastic bags we put it in can take over 100 years to decompose and may leech toxic chemicals during the process. Yuck.

Luckily, the folks at Olive Green Dog have come up with a chic, environmentally friendly solution with their Uni-sex and Super Poop Bags. 100% bio-degradable, these baggies are made from GMO-free corn starch and vegetable oil, which means they’ll compost in as little as 40 days. Bags are available in Uni-sex (small) and Super (large) sizes, and come in adorable reusable canisters decorated with illustrations by Nate Williams which means even the most style-contentious Barkista won’t be ashamed to keep them close at hand. Once you run out of the initial 50 bag supply, refills are available at the affordable price of $5.99.

While traditionally we’ve been fans of the bone-shaped baggy dispenser (packed with bio-degradable bags, obvi), we switched it up and road tested the Uni-sex canister over the period of a few weeks. As the canister isn’t exactly walk-friendly, it can be tricky to remember to grab a few bags before heading out the door. However, the packaging is so cute that you won’t be embarrassed to leave it plain sight. Also, if you’re like us and somehow your rolled bags never quite stay neatly rolled up, it serves as a cute storage device for any extras you may have lying around. The bags themselves are great— they have a slightly thicker texture, and to be honest, even though they’re not chemically-based, we thought felt were a stronger barrier between our hands and.... well.

Though perhaps not the best solution for daily walks, we think this is a great gift for any "green" Barkistas. We also recommend these canisters as a neat (both in the cool and orderly senses), way to store bags in your car or when traveling.

The Uni-sex and Super Poop Gift Set ($20.99), and individual Uni-sex and Super Poop canisters ($9.99 each), can be purchased directly from OliveGreenDog.com. Make sure to check out their other fabulous products while you’re there!

xoxo The Barkistas

Disclaimer: Products were provided by PR for consideration.

Slurpabowls!

Heatapocalypse 2010 continues in NYC, and so does our summer series focusing on hydration on-the-go. Check out Slurpabowls- adorable, uber-portable water/treat bowls that make it easy to keep your pet hydrated/fed on the road! Super durable, but recyclable (made out of paper), these cute little folding dishes hold up to 2 cups of kibble or water and can be reused several times (we got about 4 uses out of ours). 

Available from OliveGreenDog.com for $9.99 for six.

xoxo The Barkistas

Disclaimer: This content originally went live in 2009 on our old site, and has been re-posted with updates. Samples were purchased by ME for review.

Heatapocalypse 2010

It is SWELTERING and HUMID outside, which means it's more important than ever for the Barkistas to drink water. If you're like us and take your pup with you on the go, you've probably discovered that it can be tough to keep your canine companion hydrated. We've tried portable bowls (leaky), water bottle attachments (bulky), and even carrying around a small full-sized bowl (... you don't want to hear about that experience). While our local dog park does offer water, being germaphobic we're always a little bit concerned about the cleanliness...

So we had a thought- why if there's bottled water for humans, isn't there bottled water for dogs? Apparently, other smart people had already had this thought... In fact, there are several bottled water brands for dogs/"pet beverages" on the market, believe it or not!

The first one we stumbled across is Aqua Pure Breed (APB), which is based out of California. Though we have not tried this product, we were fascinated by the fact they offer both bottled spring water and mineral enhanced water. Also, their packaging looks like it might be reusable which is environmentally friendly AND cost-savvy. Design-wise, we dig the "dog bowl" shape, which we think might appeal to Paddington (trust me, she's not so keen on drinking out of water bottles/coffee cups/etc...).

APB Pure Premium Spring Water is oxygenated to help keep your pet energized and hydrated. With no added minerals, it comes with either a pink or blue lid and contains Magnesium which helps to maintain nerve function and combating heart disease. It comes in a blue or pink bowl, and as far as we can tell, the colors don't differentiate a difference- they're just a personal choice. APB offers two mineral enhanced waters for your dogs: APB Yellow is geared towards "Healthy Skin & Coat" and includes Silicia which is meant to protect against dry skin and thinning hair and nails. APB Green is for "Bone & Joint Support" and contains Chondroitin and Gulcosamine.

While we at Barkzilla are not totally sure about mineral enhanced water for your dog (... or humans for that matter), we do like the concept of portable, clean pet-friendly water. We also like APB's chic packaging and design.

Available in 8oz, 16oz and 2 liter bottles, go to Aqua Pure Breed's site to find a retailer near you. Prices range from $2.69 to $3.29 for what we assume is the smaller 8oz size.

In the next few weeks we hope to review other portable water options! Let us know if there's something you've seen that you'd like to hear more about!  

Stay cool,

xoxo The Barkistas 

Disclaimer: This content originally went live in 2009 on our old site, and has been re-posted with updates. 

Have You Found Your Animal?

Help the Brooklyn-based Found My Animal and the awesome Louis Animal Foundation do good things for animals in need by purchasing one of these beautifully crafted FOUND leashes. Amazingly, 25% of ALL profits go directly to the foundation which operates a mobile spay/neuter clinic in rural areas and finds foster homes for animals who have not yet 'found' their people.

In addition to the traditional rope, you can now choose from white or black PET.

Crafted from rope or recycled PET (yay recycling!) are animal-friendly (no leather!), and hand-spliced so they can withstand lots of tugging. All hardware is solid brass made from marine grade Italian hardware and can be adjusted in a variety of ways depending on your leash-style preference. This versatile leash can be used as a simple hand-held leash or clipped around your waist/over your shoulder for hands-free walking (we love rocking the over the shoulder style, but hope to be bold enough to do the waist thing one day!). 

Each leash also features an individually-numbered brass tag that makes this leash super unique and symbolizes the number of animals you've helped the Louis Foundation take care of. 

Depending on length and size, prices range from $32 to $68. All leashes are available directly from Found My Animal's online store. Make sure to also check out Found's awesome harnesses and collars. 

xoxo The Barkistas 

Bow Ow?

We saw this adorable first-aid kit on a recent trip to PetSmart and had to share it with you! Loaded with everything you'd ever need to fix up Fido after a little scrape, Creative Pet Solution's Bow-Ow First Aid Kit for dogs is packed full of supplies that will help you patch up your pooch.

In addition to a handy-first aid manual with instructions on what to do if you find yourself facing a canine emergency, the compact kit includes tweezers, gauze, splint material, gloves, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic cream, antiseptic wipes, bandage, tape, swabs and scissors. While most of us will probably only need to handle basic pet boo boos, as per Creative Pet Solution's site, the kit also includes the tools you'd require to temporarily stabilize your pet in case of a serious emergency en route to your vet.

The organized folks at Creative Pet Solutions have also created first-aid kits designed for sporting dogs, cats (Me OW), and horses (Horse Aid). 

Available directly from Creative's site for $29.95 or pick one up at your local pet superstore (PetSmart, PetCo, etc.).

Stay safe!

xoxo The Barkistas

Bar-B-Chew Time!

With barbecue season well under the way, there's no reason that the Barkista in your life need to miss out!

Thanks to the folks at Nylabone, your pet can enjoy cookout treats designed just for them. These adorable "Bar-B-Chew" flavored treats are non-edible, but designed to withstand moderate to strong chewers. Readily available in a variety of sizes, you can pick them up at your local PetSmart  or PetCo for instant gratification or purchase online. Prices range depending on vendor, but with a little research you can find them at bargain prices. 

Bar-B-Chew Rib Rack

Not only are these life-like ribs Bar-B-Chew flavored, but the bones also glow in the dark!

Bar-B-Chew T-Bone

Spotted in the possession of another trendy local Barkista, this T-Bone steak is designed to last and tickle the taste buds with its bacon flavor.

Bar-B-Chew Cob Bone

We picked up the small Bar-B-Chew Cob bone for Paddy this week, and it is just too cute! Bacon flavored, but not overpoweringly scented, it's definitely been given the Paddington Paw of Approval. 


Happy Bar-B-Chewing!


xoxo The Barkistas

Satisfy Your Pup's Dogolate Fix!

While Barkistas for the most part can appreciate and enjoy the finer things in life, gourmet chocolates are not one of them. Because cocoa contains substances that are toxic to dogs, even the smallest amount can prove deadly. But our spoiled pups need not go without their chocolate fix—The Canine Confectionary Company’s Chudgy Chocs line of beautifully wrapped, luxury treats has something to satisfy every Barkista’s sweet tooth.  Everything is cocoa-free (i.e. dog-friendly), and handmade to order from human-grade carob and milk-based ingredients. 

Here are some of our picks:

DOGOLATES (TM) 

The original gourmet Chudgy Chocs treat, an exquisite metallic gold gift box containing either twelve or twenty four luxurious handmade Dogolates™. Each special box contains six unique Dogolate™ flavours; Blackberry Bombe, Banana Cupcake, Mint Leaf, Strawberry Rose, Peanut Butter Swirl, and Sweet Cherry BonBon. Packed with pieces of real fruit, nuts and herbs, and light rice flakes, these hand crafted treats offer a tasty, healthy and cocoa-free gourmet alternative to human confectionery for your dog.

CHUDGY POPS MILKY PAWS LOLLIPOPS

Two solid white Dogolate™ paw shaped lollipops in two pure and natural flavours, white strawberry and white mint, set onto chewy natural rawhide twists. A carob free version of the ever-popular Chudgy Pops range, perfect for dogs who prefer white milky treats. 

CHUDGY CAKES CRISPY CAKES

A retro treat for dogs! Crunchy selection of eight freshly handmade puffed rice and milk and carob Dogolate™ cakes, decorated with Dogolate™ swirls and sugar and rice sprinkles. Heat sealed for freshness in packs of two crispy cakes. Presented in an elegant white bakery box with signature curling ribbons - also available with Happy Birthday ribbon, please select below. Each cake measures 5cm diameter, total box weight 260g.

CHUDGY CAKES BIRTHDAY - VANILLA HEART

A luxurious handmade wholewheat sponge cake sandwiched with a layer of creamy vanilla Dogolate™ laced with pure strawberry pieces, smothered with a smooth white vanilla coating and decorated with bright confetti sprinkles and a pretty handmade edible Dogolate™ party decoration. Each cake is finished with our bright signature ribbons and presented in an elegant white bakery box. Enough for six medium dogs. Available with a choice of pink or blue cake ribbon. 10cms wide X 6cms deep. 230g. (Unfortunately, we found this site a little too late to order a cake for Paddy's birthday... but perhaps next year! These cakes look absolutely divine!!)

Since The Canine Confectionary Company is based in London, all prices on their website are quoted in pounds. Though there is currently no US distributor (attention all canine boutique owners!), they will ship their treats overseas. For more information (or to start shopping now!) visit www.chudgychocs.com or send an email to info@chudgychocs.com.

With their gorgeous packaging and attention to detail, there’s no doubt that any discerning Barkista would love to get their paws on these treats!

xoxo The Barkistas

Cuddle Buddy

Check out these cute pillows from Cosas! Perfect for the dog lover- it's the second best thing to having your own ball of fur to cuddle up to.

If Dalmations aren't your thing, the site offers a variety of other cuddle buddies ranging from $36 upwards. (We love the Farmui pillow!)

If we had a disposable income right now we could guarantee our couch would be hosting a snuggly dog park about now...

The Firehouse Family is available from Cosas' webpage for $158. 

Paddington says: "Definitely cute, but there's no substitute for a real wet nose and wagging tail!"


xoxo The Barkistas

Eddie Eats Out

While New York is one of the most dog-friendly cities we’ve found during our travels, finding good dog-friendly restaurants can be tricky. Will my dog be able to sit next to my table, or will they have to sit on the other side of the barrier? Is there a water bowl? Will the servers be willing to accommodate my dog if there isn’t? And why, in a city that is filled with dog lovers, is there no restaurant database... Oh wait... There is!!

Dear EddieEatsOut.com, where have you been all my life?!?

Curated by doggy gourmand Eddie (who also has his own blog), the database includes dog-friendly dining and drinking establishments in New Hampshire, New York, Maine and California. Whether you’re looking for details on a specific restaurant/bar, or just browsing for a fun place to take the pup, this site is a great resource. Each review covers service, food, water bowl (v. important), and contains an eater notes and tips from Eddie and his canine pals. Your pup can even submit their own reviews for inclusion on the site!

Go and bookmark EddieEatsOut.com immediately.

xoxo The Barkistas

Bone Appetit

Fact. I am that crazy girl who bakes treats for her dog. Fact. I own several dog cookbooks. Fact. My dog probably eats better than I do.

Fact. I don’t always have time to whip up a batch of fresh treats for Paddy every week (even though I’d like to and so would she).

Enter PupCakes 2 Go, aka the dog version of Betty Crocker’s Warm Delights, and just as easy to make:

• Combine the dry mix in the box with 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• Pour into the ADORABLE bone shaped pans
• Pop the tray into the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes
• Allow to cool completely and VOILA!

Currently available only in Carob Chip, the mix is organic and wheat, soy and preservative free. While no decorating kit is included (sidebar: how yummy do the iced treats on the cover look... I mean... If I were a dog... ), each box will make up to 6 treats which can last up to a week when refrigerated.

Available directly from PupCakes 2 Go, the starter kit retails for $9.95 and includes 2 pouches of mix and a microwave-safe baking tray. Refills are $5.95 each and contain 3 pouches of mix for a total of 9 treats. Pans can also be purchased separately.

Bone appetit!

xoxo The Barkistas

Let Them Eat Puppy Cake

"What do you mean I have to share the cake?" - Paddy

The countdown to Paddy's 3rd birthday has begun, which means, it's time to start thinking about cake. Mmmm.

This birthday really give your pup something to brag about at the dog park- a delicious cake baked just for them from Kool Dog Kafe! Each pet-friendly cake is decorated with dog-friendly icing and adorable sprinkles (mini bones!), and comes in a cute little cake box with a special surprise for your pooch! The nice people at Kool Dog Kafe will even let you pick what color ball tops off Fido's frosted treat.

Large cakes (good for a large group at the dog park, probably about 4-8 dogs) will set you back $24.99 , while a small cake (good for 2-4 dogs) runs for $13.99. But don't fret if your pups don't finish the cake in one sitting (probably a good idea)- the nifty box it arrives in kept ours fresh for about a week. Cakes are also freezable for all those planning ahead.

For those with concerned about picky eaters, have no fear! We can say that there weren't any complaints from the finicky Barkistas at Paddy's birthday party last year. Don't forget to stock up on Kool Dog Kafe's delicious looking cupcakes and treats for your party as well!

xo The Barkistas

Hello World!

After graduating college, I moved to New York City and did the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever done in my entire life: I bought a dog on the Internet. (In all fairness, I DID do my research-- spoke with the breeder for hours at length on the phone, and called all of the references.)

Having grown up with dogs all my life, I thought I knew what I was in for: Feed + walk + bathe + occasional vet visits = unconditional love, right? Um. Wrong. I also swore that I would never dress my dog up, speak to her in baby voice, have more than 5-6 photos of her on my phone, etc.

So everything didn't exactly go to plan....

From finding the right vet, to deciphering dog park etiquette, there was a lot to figure out, but after three years, I think I’ve kind of got it figured out. While somewhere along the way I’ve become that girl who carries her dog in a bag (and whose dog may, or may not, have a small designer wardrobe), I’ve learned to embrace it and have fun.

I started Barkzilla, a style-oriented NYC centric dog blog, in 2009 as a way to share with other dog lovers some of the things I’ve learned or found along the way. After putting my “pet” project (harty har har) on hold for several months, I am excited to get it up and running again. I am by no means a pet expert or professional, just a girl who loves her dog very much and hopes you’ll enjoy her crazy dog stories and pet-friendly finds.

In addition to posting stories from our archive, we’ll be adding new content shortly, so please make sure to visit again soon!

xoxo The Barkistas (aka Sam & Paddy)