Worlds Tallest Dog

Checkout Titan, the world's tallest dog!!

(notice his RuffWear GripTrex Boots, great for the winter!)

Meet Gaper and Gus

We've had this blog now for a couple of weeks and had out store open for over 5 weeks and we haven't taken the opportunity to introduce everyone to our pooches; Gaper and Gus...

Gaper is a three and a half year old Cairn Terrier.

He absolutely LOVES to play fetch and also enjoys running in frantic circles around the yard. His favorite toys are his Ruff Wear frisbee, 3" rubber Vibram Ball and the Ballistic Ball Blaster (great for a portable easy game of fetch).

When its time for a treat, Gaper goes nutty for Olive Dog's Peanut Butter & Banana Treats (he loves fruit and peanut butter!).

Gus is our one and a half year old Yorkie...

...who is a prodigy when is comes to stealing toys and playing keep-away, while his true favorite pastime may be swimming. He is crazy for anything with a squeaker (his organic seahorse from West Paw is a fav) and also enjoys his Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Bone and Harry Barker Rope toy.

His favorite treat is Polka Dog's Lucky Duck Treats or anything else with real meat in it.

New Puppy Tips

Santa Paws

Hungry? Thirsty?

Every doggie needs a bowl or two...we have some extra special ones to share with you...

1: large lobster bowl by melia luxury pet, 2: polkadog packabowl, 3:small whale bowl by melia luxury pet, 4: hungry/thirsty bowls from wagwear

Dangerous Foods for Dogs

'Tis the season for lots of eating and lots of treats...so keep in mind as you are enjoying your holiday sweets and feasts that you really should be extra careful when it comes to sharing foods with your pup. We say just stick to giving them special doggie treats and food... but if you must share be aware that the following foods can be very harmful to your furry friend!

The ASPCA's List of 13 Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

Alcoholic beverages: Can cause intoxication, coma and death.
Avocado: Its high fat content can lead to Pancreatitis.
Chocolate (all forms): Contains caffeine, theobromine or theophylline which can be toxic to the heart and nervous system.
Coffee (all forms): Contains caffeine which can be toxic to the heart and nervous system.
Fatty foods: Can cause Pancreatitis.
Macadamia nuts: Contains toxins which can affect the muscles, digestive system, and nervous system.
Moldy or spoiled foods: Could contain multiple toxins
Onions, onion powder: Contains sulfoxides and disulfides which can damage red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
Raisins and grapes: Contains toxins which can damage kidneys, cause kidney failure and lead to death.
Salt: Can cause electrolyte imbalance if eaten in suffient quantities.
Yeast dough (Unbaked): Can expand in digestive system and cause bloat, leading to death.
Garlic: Similar to onions (above) except garlic is considered to be less toxic and safe for dogs when used in moderation. Often used to flavor food or treats but should be used sparingly.
Products sweetened with xylitol: This common artifical sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures.

Gifts That Give Back

GO FETCH

The classic came of fetch is a dogs favorite! It's great fun and great exercise. Weather your dog is a seasoned pro or needs to be taught how to play fetch we have lots of fun things that can help with their game. If you are looking to teach your pup how to retrieve things start by throwing a ball and when they bring it back reward them with a yummy treat!

Here are some of our favorite things for fetch!

PLANET DOG'S SNOWBALL IS GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN STUFF TREATS INSIDE TO GIVE THE DOG EXTRA INCENTIVE TO "GO GET IT"

THIS ROPE BALL BY MY GOOD DOG IS GREAT FOR FETCH BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THE DIRY BALL YOU JUST PICK IT UP BY THE ROPE! GREAT FOR HEAVY DUTY CHOMPERS!

FOR THE POOCH WHO LIKES TO JUMP THESE HOVER CRAFTS BY ROUGHWEAR ARE SUPER! THEY ARE REALLY DURABLE AND COME IN SMALL AND LARGE SIZES. OH, AND THEY FLOAT!

Protecting Paws In Winter

Winter can wreak havic on your pooches paws. For starters, rock salt and icemelts used on roads and sidewalks can irritate your dog's paws (also leading to the risk of injesting chemicals if your dog licks his/her paws). Dog's paws are also suseptable to frostbite and the fur around your doggie's paws often collects snowballs when they play in the snow.

However, there are many things owners can do to protect their dog's paws and ensure they enjoy the outdoors even in the colder months. First of all, be sure to use pet-friendly icemelts to clear your driveways and sidewalks. Since we can't control what other people use its important to be sure to rinse your dog's paws off after a walk. If you notice your their paws have become cracked or frostbitten there are many soothing solutions. We recomend Happy Tails Spa's "Bowwow Butter Balm", available in our store, to sooth cracked paws and help alleviate discomfort.

Of course, be sure to consult your vet if any serious problem areas appear on your dog's paws.

Another good method to prevent snow buildup is to trim the fur bewteen and around your dogs paws. Trimming your pooches nails also helps (when a dog has long nails it's toes spread easier, creating more surface area for snow to collect).

To truly prevent damage to your dog's paws pick up a pair of our doggie boots, Ruff Wear's "Bark'n Boots Grip Trex".

DOGS vs CATS (we say the dogs win!!)

The Sydney Morning Herald details the latest dog vs cat competition that has taken place-- who truly is "man's best friend"? ... and the WINNER is the dog! They may say cats are smarter but we agree that when it comes to a true friend a dog will never let you down! WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD WIN?

(This article was written...tomorrow...by an Australian paper...)

Is it reigning cats or dogs?

PETER HAWKINS December 13, 2009

THE claws are out after an international study comparing dogs and cats confirmed that the former has earned the moniker of man's best friend. Canines and felines were put to the test in 11 categories (and dogeries!), with dogs winning "by a whisker".

The pet showdown, which New Scientist magazine compiled from scientific journals, declared tractability (or manageability), bonding and understanding gave dogs their "superior vocabulary and eagerness to engage".

Pooches collected bonus points for being an older species – historically speaking – and for problem solving and being all-rounders.

Cats scored highly for having almost twice as many brain cells and a greater population.

They also won in vocalisation and for having better senses: a more acute nose, superior night vision and a higher auditory range than the average dog.

The study also found cat food had a smaller ecological pawprint.

But Associate Professor Paul McGreevy from the University of Sydney's faculty of veterinary science said the calculations were questionable. The "best in show" title was best left up to the individual.

"It depends on what sort of an interaction you are looking for," said Dr McGreevy, author of A Modern Dog's Life. Humans and dogs may have a more profound relationship because their interactions were not confined to the home. "Plenty of people travel with dogs, go to work with dogs, and exercise with dogs," he said.

Bradley Trevor Greive, author of Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats, said it was like comparing a polar bear with a flamingo: "People think cats are a low-cost, low-effort equivalent of a dog but they're entirely different and because of that we have these huge problems with so many dumped pets."

Bambi Edwards, who has been breeding cats at Cronulla for 30 years, said cats were perfect for the elderly: "The more time you give a cat the more you get out. Cats are very intelligent . . . they respond to their owner's voice and footsteps."

Margaret and Rob Walden, from Sydney's northern beaches, who have three Rhodesian ridgebacks, said a home without dogs lacked life. “I show them, take them on holidays, walk them and they're happy when you come home," Mrs Walden said.

SMARTS

Winner: Cats. A cat's brain mass compared with its body mass is much bigger than that of the average dog, according to New Scientist. Cats have 300 million neuron cells in the brain, compared with a dog's 160 million.

HISTORY

Winner: Dogs. Evidence suggests cats have been around for 9500 years, while dogs have been traced back to between 16,000 and 135,000 years ago.

FELLOWSHIP

Winner: Dogs. "By nature, cats are loners," the study said. Yet dogs have descended from pack animals. "Give a four-month-old puppy the choice and it will choose a human companion over a dog."

MASS APPEAL

Winner: Cats. In the top 10 cat-owning countries there are almost 204 million cats, while in the top 10 dog-owning countries there are fewer than 173 million pooches.

UNDERSTANDING

Winner: Dogs. "Dogs can follow human pointing gestures such as an outstretched finger or nod of the head to find food," the study said. The "superior vocabulary" of a dog and "eagerness to engage with its owner" also made them winners.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Winner: Dogs. They favour a collaborative approach. Being guide dogs for the blind and their ability to step in and solve problems for their masters are listed as positives.

VOCALISATION

Winner: Cats. This is supported by a study this year which reveals that cats can use their "crooning to ensnare us . . . they produce a sound that brings out our nurturing side".

TRACTABILITY

Winner: Dogs.

Finding it easy to learn and obey rules makes dogs the winners here. They "learn the same way as human infants . . . with the dog attending to cues such as eye contact, gesture and vocalisation", the study said.

SUPER SENSES

Winner: Cats. The average cat with its 200 million smell receptors has a more acute nose than a dog. Cats can also see in light levels six times lower than we can, while dogs can only see five. A cat's auditory range of 45 to 64,000 hertz is also greater than a dog's 67 to 45,000 hertz.

ECO-FRIENDLINESS

Winner: Cats. The average cat requires 0.15 hectares of land a year to keep it fed, while a medium-sized dog needs 0.84 hectares.

UTILITY

Winner: Dogs. They are the clear winner here, owing to their ability to hunt, herd and guard. They are used to detect drugs and bombs with their noses, race for sport and pull sleds. They also have health and social benefits for owners by needing to be walked.

The Bark Magazine Safe Dog Toy List

These are some great toys for dogs that are safe and fun! The brands recommended by The Bark Magazine (seen below) are all ones that we carry in our shop. These companies (among many others) are really doing a great job creating fun, interactive and healthy toys to keep all of our furry friends busy and active!

PLANET DOG

A “values-based” Maine company that offers a full spectrum of fetching, nontoxic, recyclable U.S.-made toys. The Orbee-Tuff toys, from the TUG, with its mighty “flip-grip” technology, to spongy pastel-hued baby bones, come in a range of strengths; chew on the website’s “Chew-O-Meter” to determine the right ones for your dog.

WEST PAW DESIGN

This Montana-based company focuses on environmentally friendly production. Its “Zogoflex” is a tough yet flexible proprietary material that utilizes 10 percent post-industrial waste. While that “green” claim may sound as appetizing as “eat your greens,” the toys are recyclable (if returned to the company). Zogoflex is advertised as nontoxic, FDA-compliant and free of “any known sources of lead, cadmium, mercury, latex, natural rubber, phthalates, hormones, Bisphenol A, or asbestos.” The dishwasher-safe Tux has an inner lip for hiding treats, adding another layer of fun and challenge.

GO DOG

Realistic plush toys that will thrill most dogs, but aren’t suitable for aggressive chewers. A new proprietary process (Chew Guard technology) has been added to some stuffed products, enabling them to withstand more rigorous play. The toys, made in China, are double-stitched, reinforced and machine washable. Their label, “New Material Only,” means the product is not made from reprocessed fabric, vinyl or plastics.

(company descriptions from www.thebark.com)

images from planet dog, west paw design, go dog

molly mutt on the TODAY show

Molly Mutt dog duvet and stuff sack is for sale in our store and today it was featured on the TODAY show!

Watch the clip above to learn about this amazingly practical and cute bed.

We have all three sizes available in our store (small, med and huge)!