Tag Archives: pets

Bee or Bret Michaels? Four-legged friends gear up for Halloween

Posted by Courtney on October 3, 2012 None comments

If you plan on dressing your furkid for Halloween, you are not alone.

PetSmart reports they’re doubling their selection of animal costumes this year. For 2012, the most popular costumes so far are bees and pumpkins.

“Choosing a costume for your pet is like choosing a costume for yourself – you want something that reflects your or your pet’s personality,” author and entertaining expert Kimberly Schlegel Whitman told PetSmart.

Other trends this year range from superheroes to sock monkeys to Bret Michaels. Yes, you read that right. You can dress your pooch up with a wig and bandana! Rock on!

Bret Michaels Halloween Wig with Bandana for Dogs Photo Courtesy: PetSmart

If you’re the kind of pet parent who goes all out for Howl-O-Ween and are actually planning a party for your pooch’s friends, Schlegel Whitman has these ghoulish guidelines for a festive fete:

Party Planning? Make it Spooktacular

* Set up a fake graveyard with rawhide bones and other treats for dogs to sniff and find.
* Embellish pumpkins, setting them out for pets to use as water and food bowls.
* Carve pumpkins in your pet’s likeness, tracing from a photo or online template.
* Create a pet-friendly bobbing game using galvanized buckets filled with water and tennis balls.
* Set up a photo station to capture the fun. To get better photos, have the photographer get down on the floor to snap the pet, instead of from up above.

I’m not surprised…Annual pet spending reaches all-time high

Posted by Courtney on March 5, 2012 None comments

If you can believe it, Americans spent nearly $51 billion on their pets last year! Not only is that an all-time high, it’s the first time Americans ever passed the $50 billion mark on their beloved dogs, cats, birds, bunnies etc.

Pet parents spent the most on food, then followed by vet care and supplies.

Riley begging to come inside from the cold.

According to the report by the American Pet Products Association, 2012 should be another big year, predicting the amount spent in services, like grooming, pet sitting, pet hotels, would grow.

Hearing stats like this makes me want to come up with an awesome innovative pet product, that lets me in on the billions of dollars being spent!

What are you getting your pet for Christmas?

Posted by Courtney on November 8, 2011 None comments

It turns out that no matter how tough the economy is people are still willing to pamper their pets. A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press shows that pet owners plan to spend an average of $46 on their furry friends this year. That’s up $5 from last year!

Toys and treats are topping the gift list. And eight percent will receive bedding or clothing.

I personally plan on buying toys and a new bed for Riley. He flattens his to a pancake, so I think some new digs will make him happy!

If you’re planning on braving the stores soon, some major retailers have plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday too. I for one, prefer to shop online.

What will Santa bring your furbaby?

Healthy Howl-oween

Posted by Courtney on September 25, 2011 1 comments

One of my favorite things about the Rachael Ray magazine is the healthy, pet recipes that are included in every issue. Often I make homemade dog biscuits for Riley because it’s fun, healthy and affordable. Not to mention he whimpers at the sight of them! I’ve never seen him get more excited over anything. He just adores homemade snacks.

These seasonal biscuits will not only taste as sweet as candy to your furkid, but the natural health benefits of pumpkin will help soothe (and trim!) his tummy.

Here’s a recipe for Pup’kin Biscuits that we just tried out over the weekend.

*Please note, every dog is different, so please check with your vet to see if this recipe is suitable for your pet.

Healthy Howl-oween!

Pup’kin Biscuits

Makes about 3 dozen
Prep 15 min Bake 40 min

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
2 tbsp dry milk powder
2 1/2 cups white or wheat flour
2 tsp water

Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir together the eggs, pumpkin puree, milk powder and flour; add 2 tsp water, or enough so that the dough just comes together.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with 1-inch cookie cutters. Gather scraps, combine, roll and form more biscuits; repeat until all the dough is used.

3. Place the biscuits 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn over and bake until hardened, another 20 minutes. Let cool on pan for 5 minute.

***Source: October issue Rachael Ray magazine

Battle of the toothbrush

Posted by Courtney on September 17, 2011 None comments

My dog Riley is 3 years old, and since the beginning I’ve been feeding all natural or organic dog food or biscuits. I even try to clean the house in all green products. While to some this may seem over the top or exhausting, for me it’s kind of fun. :)

What’s not fun is the ongoing battle of teeth brushing. I’ve tried everything from wipes, to finger brushes, to fancy toothbrushes, to chewing bones etc…but I’m getting worried now about dental disease because I’m starting to see signs of tartar on my Riley.

I recently did a segment for the TV show I work on about dental disease and dogs, and the vet told me that dogs will definitely live longer if they have healthy teeth. So, my question is, is anyone having any success with teeth brushing? If so, what should I try?

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