The Gift Issue 2013: Top 5 Gifts for your Dog

December is upon us in full swing and we are back with our list of top gift picks for your dog!  We hope you and your pup enjoy these amazing selections!

1.  BarkBox Subscription - The BarkBox concept may not be new to many of you, but I'm still surprised when I meet people who haven't heard of this exciting company.  BarkBox is a monthly subscription that compiles a unique box of goodies designed to treat, entertain, and delight your pup.  You first select your dog size, plan of choice, and receive!  Each box contains 4 or more products; ranging from treats, toys, and innovative gadgets.  This is a great gift for the pup who has everything and is always looking for new forms of entertainment to keep them engaged.  Every month has new products, so your pup will never be bored.

Photo Credit:  barkbox.com
BarkBox plans start at $19/month

2.  Canine Massage - Up until now, you may have only considered massage a human luxury enjoyed at  those rare times you have the time to go to the spa.  Enjoying a massage is not only part of a balanced and restorative human wellness regimen, but is beneficial for your dog as well.  Massage can help your dog in a variety of ways by reducing anxiety, alleviating muscle and joint pain, and enhancing their overall quality of life.  Check out a local canine massage studio near you!

Photo Credit:  www.dogwonderful.com
Rates for canine massage usually start at $40

3.  The Dog Casino Interactive Game - The DogCasino game is a truly innovative toy designed by canine extraordinaire, Nina Ottosson.  She has designed a number of games and toys designed to mentally and physically stimulate your dog, and DogCasino is one of the top products in her line.  DogCasino consists of 8 compartments and flaps designed to hide treats.  The object of the game is for the dog to locate and extract the treats by opening the compartments and flaps.  This activity not only mentally stimulates your pup, but allows you to spend quality time engaging and connecting with your dog.

Photo Credit: www.wag.com
DogCasino Interactive Game by Nina Ottosson - $53.99

4.  PetMate Self-Warming Bed - This product was voted one of the top 10 best pet products at the 2013 Global Pet Expo.  This product works by incorporating Mylar "space blanket" technology, which reflects heat to keep your pup warm and cozy.  This is the perfect gift for those chilly holiday nights!

Photo Credit:  www.petage.com
Pricing ranges from $24.99 - $165.99 depending on size

5.  Custom Pet Pillows - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so why not create a toy in the likeness of yourself and pet?!  A custom gift is always more meaningful to give and receive.  We love these pillows by In The Seam designer Rhonda J. Smith.  I can't help but smile when I look at her creations.  All you need to do is submit your photo and Rhonda does the rest!  Check out more In The Seam creations at intheseam.com, her Etsy shop, and UncommonGoods.

Photo Credit:  www.uncommongoods.com
All pillows are custom and start at $145

Happy Gifting!

Love,

A & A

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Good or Bad??

Photo credit:  www.petswelcome.com

With the Thanksgiving holiday just a few short days away, many of us are prepping our homes, refrigerators, and mental states in anticipation for the big day.  Whether you are the person making the meal or not, chances are you will end up with some type of leftover.  So, as you sit down post-holiday dinner to enjoy your leftovers, do you also share the love with Fido?

This is not a simple yes or no answer.  Some Thanksgiving menu options are a surprisingly nutritious treat, while others are considered definite no-no's.

So, what holiday favorites are both delicious and nutritious?  Many of the healthiest options for your dog are the vegetable side items.  This includes green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower.  Be sure to not feed them vegetables that are too starchy, such as corn and white potatoes. Additionally, make sure the vegetable dishes are not coated with mass quantities of cheese, butter, and sugar.  For example, my mother's brown sugar sweet potato casserole and french onion green bean casserole would not be recommended options for my boys...rule of thumb:  steer clear from any dish ending in "casserole".

Photo credit:  www.nytimes.com
Carrots are a great source of Vitamin A and Fiber!

Photo credit:  www.fitsugar.com
Yes, this looks delicious, but this sugary, salty, fatty delight is not the right choice for your pup

In addition to vegetables, many fruits are great options to feed your pup.  Apples, oranges, and bananas are great sources of potassium and fiber.  Just remember!  No grapes, raisins, or blackberries.  These are dangerous for dogs.

Finally, what about the main act on the menu?  Turkey is considered a very healthy, lean, protein-packed food.  Just remember to remove the skin, excess fat, and of course any bones before serving.

Photo credit:  www.petmd.com

Enjoy those leftovers!  Oh, and of course your big Thanksgiving dinner!!

Love,

A & A

Check This Out! DOG TV

Photo Credit:  dogtv.com

What will they think of next?!  Not to make us sound too dated, but that was literally our response when we first heard about DogTV.  Created by leading pet experts, such as Victoria Stilwell from Animal Planet and Dr. Nicholas Dodman from Tuft's University; this channel is the first to offer programming exclusively FOR dogs.

The impetus for creating DogTV was to cater to dogs who are "home alone" throughout the day.  Dogs are pack animals and extremely social creatures who are not accustomed to spending large amounts of time alone.  Being left alone all day can lead to behavioral and emotional issues, such as boredom, stress, and separation anxiety.  This is where DogTV comes in!  The programming offered is intended to alleviate "home alone" symptoms by stimulating and entertaining your pooch while you are away at work or out of the house for extended periods of time.

How does it work?

DogTV consists of 3 different types of programming:  relaxation, stimulation, and exposure.  Each of these categories runs on a 3-6 minute schedule and is designed to compliment your dog's natural daily behavioral patterns.  Relaxation programming provides, just that, calming, soothing scenes and sounds designed to reduce stress.  Stimulation programming is meant to excite and engage your dog through visual and auditory stimuli, such as watching dogs in play or seeing a ball being thrown in their direction.  The third and final programming category is Exposure.  This channel is designed to reinforce positive behaviors and training commands, paired with everyday environmental situations, such as a guest ringing the doorbell.

Aside from programming content, the channel is designed to be compatible with your dog's biology.  For example, dogs view images at a flicker rate higher than humans.  Your dog's eye views images at a flickering movement rate of 70-80hz, compared to the 50-60Hz of the human eye.  Today's digital and flat screen television sets have a flicker rate of 100Hz, making it much easier for dog's to view.  In addition, much of the programming has enhanced the color level and contrast to ensure vibrancy of the picture in order to be more compatible with your dog's sense of sight.

Where can I get DogTV?

Currently, DogTV is only available through local cable and satellite vendors in San Diego, CA as part of its pilot phase.  As of August 1st, any DirectTV customer can also subscribe to DogTV, along with streaming online or via Roku.  Monthly costs range from $4.99-$9.99 per month.

Photo courtesy:  abcnews.go.com

So, if you believe your dog is experiencing "home alone blues", then give DogTV a try!  I can say from personal experience that we are those pet parents who often leave our television on for additional entertainment and to make our dogs feel they are not alone.  We hope you try this innovative approach to pet entertainment.

Happy watching!!

Love,

A & A