Trail Mix from @Milkbone!

How cute is this adorable Milk Bone Trail Mix?! We got a recent sample in our August BarkBox and are totally obsessed with the adorable little bones! The perfectly sized treat for Paddy, we can't get enough of these cute little pieces.

Filled with rolled oats, sweet potato, and real beef, the trail mix contains NO corn, artificial preservatives or flavors.

Available from your local pet store and websites like Amazon.
 

Believe it or not: Take Your Dog to Ripley's Times Square 8/26

Beefy, the Upper West Side skateboarding dog. We kid you not.

Looking to beat the heat this weekend with your pooch? To celebrate National Dog Day (this Sunday, August 26th), Ripley's Times Square in NYC is offering free admission to dogs and their owners to the Odditorium.

Can you believe it or not? (Ha. I know, bad joke...)

While we normally avoid Times Square at all costs, we have a feeling that Paddy would kind of have a good time. And if Woolly Mammoth Teeth and the "World's largest collection of authentic shrunken heads" aren't enough, "Beefy" the Upper West Side skateboarding bulldog will also be cruising around the museum from 12 pm to 5 pm on his skateboard. Snacks and treats will be provided for four-legged guests.

To redeem your free admission, head to Ripley's Times Square on Sunday with your dog -- one free adult ticket, pet pet. And don't forget a leash, all dogs must be leashed inside the museum.

Will you check it out?

The Babble Ball: The Best Toy Ever

The Babble Ball is quite possibly the BEST dog toy ever.

We may have previously blogged about this, but felt like it was worth revisiting when we stumbled upon it online again this weekend. This battery operated ball is the one toy that we have seen successfully entertain dogs of all sizes and ages. Literally nothing more than a ball with a small speaker that is activated by motion, Paddy will spend hours chasing hers around the apartment. Relatively sturdy, this thing has been repeatedly smacked into walls, furniture, molding, etc. and is still in good shape. 

Our one piece of advice? Make sure to have extra batteries on hand, and make sure you have a good hiding place to stash this when you need a break from the babble :) 

Available from Perpetual Kid for $8.99. 

Wags & Kisses-- 

Beams from @TheHonestKitchen!

Whew. It's been a crazy few weeks, but now that Paddy has returned from a visit with her grandparents, it's time to get testing! As we mentioned in our last post, The Honest Kitchen has rolled out Beams, which are essentially just the dried skins of wild-caught Atlantic Catfish. While we were skeptical at first (dogs like catfish?), Paddy was a big fan and thoroughly enjoyed her Friday afternoon snack. Though the smalls are a little on the big size for our 6lb dog (roughly 6" in length), it's relatively easy to cut them in half with a pair of good kitchen scissors. The only other thing we'd mention is the smell-- while not too strong, or overly fishy, the snacks do have a fish-food-esque scent, though it did not linger for long, nor was it overpowering.

Is your dog a catfish lover? What "exotic" treats do you spoil your pet with? 

Introducing Beams from The Honest Kitchen!

Even though Paddy loves her bully sticks, we're not necessarily huge fans considering, ahem, where they come from (ewww). Fortunately, our friends over at The Honest Kitchen, the only human-grade pet food company in the US, have introduced Beams, which are made from pure, wild-caught Atlantic Catfish skins. While fish skins may not necessarily sound appealing, they're actually a great alternative for pets who are allergic or intolerant to common proteins like beef, chicken and turkey (or like Paddy, liver). Also, we love that when it comes to this snack, there's one only "pristine ingredient," and we don't have to worry about checking the ingredients for things that won't sit well with our pup.

Paddy is currently on vacation (seriously, she lives such a charmed life, sighhhh), but as soon as she's back in the city we'll let you know her thoughts! Are you fans of The Honest Kitchen? What are your pet's favorite snacks?

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

Spinz Twisty Dog Chews

We cannot say enough good things about our monthly BarkBox deliveries. Seriously, each month they seem to have better and better canine swag in them! This month, we discovered Spinz, aka Paddington's new favorite toy ever (and just when we thought nothing could replace the toys she got in LAST month's BarkBox).

The 100% edible interactive chew toy is made of two interlocking pieces with different patterned "heads" that rotate, thus making destroying this toy so much MORE fun.

Made in the USA they are low-calorie, gluten-free, reasonably priced and help to keep teeth sparkly clean! Pick yours up in a variety and flavors and sizes from your local pet-retailer like Petco.

The Dog is Not a Toy

We are moderately obsessed with this doggy scratch post out of Germany. And at a whopping 490 Euros (aka mucho dinero in US dollars),  it's arguably more artwork than cat toy, though I guess at that price the dual functionality is a plus! Made from polyester resin and sisal cord, it's (hopefully) designed to withstand kitty's claws and the test of time.

Designed by Erik Stehmann and available from www.pet-interiors.de.

@BiscuitsandBath Opens in Midtown East

We're so excited for our pals over at Biscuit and Bath who celebrated the grand opening of their newest NYC location yesterday! Paddy was one of the lucky pups who got to play in the new space on its first day, and as always, she came home with a big smile and totally exhausted!

Whether you're a first-time B&B'er, or your pup has as lifetime membership, heads up about a special deal available via Amazon Local for their 1067 Park Ave @ 87^th St, 1035 3rd Ave @ 62^nd St, and 487 3rd Ave @ 33^rd St. locations:  

• Spend $55 (regularly $110) for a full grooming package that includes a haircut, bath, brush-out, nail trim, ear cleaning, and gland expression
• Spend $122 (regularly $245) for two nights of boarding that includes a 30-minute walk to the park and 30-minute training session
• Or spend $300 (regularly $600) for a one-month unlimited day care package.

Pick yours up from Amazon Local and then call B&B to redeem!

Even if you're not ready to commit to one of their long-term packages, this is a great way to try out daycare and also take advantage of Biscuits and Bath's grooming and overnight services.

Does your dog go to daycare? 

 

Fresh Dog Dry Shampoo

While catching up on one of our favorite blogs, Pretty Fluffy, we spotted this new Barkista-worthy beauty product that will keep your pup feeling fresh without the bathtub.

That's right, dry shampoo for dogs. It's here and available now to add to your doggy's vanity from Fresh Dog's website for $15.

And what a game changer this is: 100% natural, it instantly revives, detangles and cleans up buildup from your best friend's coat, while maintaining a healthy pH balance. Also, the site recommends it for freshening up carpets and pet bedding-- simply sprinkle, let sit, and vacuum!

Hot Dog in the City

It has been HOT HOT HOT in the city, and with no sign of the heat letting up, it's important to remember how these temperatures affect your pup, especially if you live in a concrete jungle like NYC. Love this graphic from Healing Springs Animal Hospital via the Paw Prints Magazine Facebook page that explains how hot the sidewalk feels to your doggy's paws:

How do you take care of your pooch's paws when the sidewalks are steamy? We've seen some folks opt for the booties and also heard great things about Musher's Secret Paw Protectant, but would love to hear how you help your dog handle the heat!

Take Your Dog to Work Day 2012

This Friday is "Take Your Dog to Work" day in the United States. While most office have yet to embrace a canine-coworker friendly stance, there are definitely pros and cons to having dogs in the workplace. Though we've found typically that most pups we've encountered in the workplace have been well-mannered, you do occasionally run into some dogs that aren't suited for the office environment.

Based on our experience, here are some things to keep in mind before considering bring your dog into the office:

• Is your dog housebroken? Seriously, you don't want to be known as the person whose dog peed in the CEO's office.
• Is your dog quiet?
• Can your dog handle being in a relatively confined space all day? Will they be comfortable hanging out in your office or cube? 
• Does your dog like other people? This is key. While you will most likely be accompanying your dog all day, there will be people who want to play with your dog and you may have to leave them in the care of others briefly. A former co-worker of ours had an adorable dog who was very well-behaved but FREAKED OUT any time his owner walked away (we're talking full out charging at the door and barking).

If you do decide to bring your dog into work, don't forget to pack a few essentials for the day, including: a water bowl, food/treats, and some toys that will keep him/her occupied (for example an ODOR-LESS bully stick, emphasis on odor-less).

Do you bring your dog to work regularly? Will you be bringing your pup to work this Friday?

We're Baaaackkkk

So yeah, we went a little MIA again, and for that we apologize. The last few months have been crazy busy in an awesome way-- not only were we on the road for our "other job," but we are now planning a wedding (!!). Seriously, how insane is that?

We can't wait to catch up with you and really appreciate the constant stream of traffic and love that you've been sending our way. Stay tuned for lots of exciting updates, fun wedding doggy-duds, and the usual mashup of Barkista-worthy finds.

 

Lobster Roll Biscuits from @BoccesBakery!

Drool. 

Coming soon to a website near you. 

Follow @BoccesBakery on Twitter for updates.

Buzzzz Biscuits from @BoccesBakery ROCK!

Bzzzzz... we want to let you in on a secret: for a limited-time only, the folks over at Bocce's Bakery are whipping up special biscuits for Spring! That's right, get your paws on their new Buzzzz Biscuits while you can! Featuring local New York honey, chamomile (caaaallllmmmm), and bee pollen, these treats are baked in NYC and made from organic, all-natural ingredients. YUM.

If you have not already stopped reading this article and headed over to Bocce's website to buy your bag, GO. NOW. Not only are they incredibly tasty (see the photo above), but they smell HEAVENLY. Seriously. And considering the ingredients are just organic oat flour, raw honey, chamomile, and bee pollen... we don't see any reason why we shouldn't have a little pre-dinner snack..... You didn't see those crumbs in the keyboard ;)

Available online for a limited time; $9.50 for a 5oz bag of treats.

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

P.L.A.Y. & PetFinder #WarmBellies Twitter Party

It's time to party for a good cause! That's right, save the date for P.L.A.Y. and PetFinder's first ever Twitter Party on 4/3 at 4PM ET/7 PM PT which will be hosted by pet-experts like Andrea Arden and doggy style guru Dara Foster.  In addition to kicking off National Pet Month, the event will be helping to raise awareness about the Warm Bellies Initiative which helps to pups in need feel more cozy while waiting for their forever homes. For each purchase of a P.L.A.Y. Artist or Original Collection bed, one will be donated to a shelter.

Seriously, AWWW!!! And if the good cause wasn't enough to get you involved, there will be party favors to be won! We hope you'll join us at the party! RSVP now on the P.L.A.Y. blog and also enter to win some pre-party prize packs!