Category: Gadgets
Leash extender & multi-dog walker
Have more than one furry friend to walk and annoyed by the tangle of leashes? Well, the fretting is over. Diva Dog--the same folks that peddle quite possibly one of the hippest selections of stylish, funky-fresh nylon leashes and collars we've seen to date--now offers super-flexible leash extenders. The leash extenders let you easily walk several dogs on a single leash at once. Just attach multiple extenders (max of 3 recommended) on the leash and adjust for each dog as needed. You can also use the leash extenders to simply add some slack to your existing leash. They come in 1/2 inch and 1 inch widths and can be mixed-n-matched with Diva Dog's line of nylon collars and leashes to show off your own flair. Hook 'em up in style!
[$16-$18, diva-dog.com]
Spotlight pet tracking system
Even though losing a dog is something we never, never ever like to think about, it's still something we feel is very, very important to protect against. While micro-chipping is a great precaution and safety measure, it can't actually locate your lost pet. Enter the Spotlight GPS Dog Collar. This super ingenious and ultimately helpful gadget combines advanced GPS technology with a dedicated, always live, home-base support team to help locate and recover a lost pet. And better yet, Spotlight is currently offering a special introductory price that adds up to a savings of over 30%. So, what's the saying that goes here? Oh, right: Act now...
[$199.99 Special Price, Spotlightgps.com]
Pet loo
Hey looky loos! Looky here, it's the Pet Loo! From Puppy Solutions, this hygienic and environmentally-friendly loo replicates a piece of grass or lawn and allows your pup to take care of his or her business without having to rely on you or on a walk. Great for pet professionals, pet sitters, and just pet owners who would like some freedom from walks or just a great backup plan for when you can't make it home in time for walk time. The Pet Loo comes complete with a unique drainage system making it easy to clean and maintain, and the synthetic material "grass" will ensure a long-lasting product. The loos are good for dogs of many sizes...for bigger dogs just push two loos together. Pretty cool.
[$239, Thepetloo.com]
Dog & Cat timers
Adorable! From cooking accessory emporium Sur La Table here comes an excellent addition to any pet lover's kitchen: Dog & Cat Timers. Designed by famous Swedish/Swiss designer Bengt Ek, these timers are available in four styles, Black Dog, Brown Dog, Black Cat, and White Cat. And they're not only cute and charming they're also a snap to use and helpful to all us chefs. Just twist the timer bottom to time anything up to sixty minutes. Hmm, we're thinking perfect for the next time you need to keep track of how long those home-made doggie treats have been baking in the oven. Hmmm, do we worry our four-legged friends may figure out how to set them to remind us all of the dinner hour? Probably not, and any way, cuteness totally trumps worry!
[$10, Surlatable.com]
Blingy retractable dog lead
Blingity Bling Bling Bling, it's the Uber Bling Retractable Dog Lead. For the most glamorous of glam puppies, this retractable lead is decorated with Swarovski crystals and has a great big P embedded in crystals, too. The P technically stands for Puchi Petwear but you can make it stand it for anything you like...oh, we know! How about P for Pampered Puppy?! It's just so much more stylish, and so much chicer, than your run-of-the-mill black plastic retractable lead. So much, right? So the next time your dog is enjoying some time on his or her extend-a-leash (because, yeah, that's totally how your puppy rolls) why not make it some blingy time, too?
[99GBP incl VAT, Puchipetwear.com]
Quadro pet stroller
Look what we've got for older dogs, little dogs, slow, slow dogs and any and all dogs who just might need a lift: it's the Quadro Stroller from Pet Ego! Designed by Emanuele Bianchi, this equally stylish and ingenious contraption is a frame designed to hold up to two "iLove pods" in which your pampered (really pampered) puppy can travel in style. And once the iLove pods are removed from the stroller frame they can work alone as free-wheeling pet carriers, be attached to your bike, and even serve as pet car seats. So versatile, and we do love versatility! Please note that the Quadro stroller is the frame and the pods must be ordered separately to complete the system.
[$140, Petego.com]
Pink diamond doggie business bags
It's business time! And when it is, why not go it in style with Boutique Fancy Fluff's Pink Diamond Doggie Business Bags!? Boutique Fancy Fluff by the Little Dog & Cat Clothing Co. is the BFF for your four-legged BFF with these 100% biodegradable and earth-friendly doggie "business" bags. The handle-tie, opaque (because some things we don't really want to see), and odor-neutralizing (or smell!) baggies fit into a stylish mini-mini purse featuring a chic and glam cream and pink (!) diamond design. We think the look is very retro, in only the best way, with details like the purse strap, and change purse-style closure on top. And best part, it attaches handily and handsomely to your leash, so this business bag dispenser is as big on convenience as it is on style.
[$20, Boutiquefancyfluff.com]
Heart dog poo bag dispenser
Pampered pups do everything in style, and we really mean everything. The next time you take your fave four-legged friend for a stroll in town (or country!) be at your always stylish ready with these Heart Poo Bag Dispensers. These colorful heart shaped "disposal kits" come in an array of cheerful Spring colors -yellow, orange, cyclamen, light blue and red- and are a fun way to take care of leftovers. Even, better, the dispenser comes with matching bags that are earth friendly and 100% biodegradable. We clip the heart dispenser to our leash so it's always handy. Because we all have to scoop some poop, so why not do it in style?
[$20, Bestfriendnyc.com]
Dog mouse and pad
If you're like us, you spend far too many hours logged onto the computer. There are a few things we rely on to lift our spirits and distract us from our lower back pain. First, we sneak in long walks with the dog whenever we can. Second, when we really have to buckle down and empty the inbox, we surround ourselves with lively office gadgets. A new favorite is the dog mouse and mouse pad from NYCitylimit. We love the pop art look. It's modern and hip while also being practical. Doesn't everyone need a mouse? So forget about the snow globe collection cluttering your desk and opt for this trendy item instead. Who knows, it might just boost your productivity!
Therapeutic sauna for dogs
Ever feel like your tired bones just needed to lie down in a nice warm place and soak up the heat? We're not talking about Dog Beach; we're talking abut The Therapeutic Pet Sauna sold by Hammacher Schlemmer. The far infrared heat emitted by the sauna panels deliver penetrating warmth to your K-9's sore spots without overheating the air, so breathing remains pleasant during treatment. When you do buy this wellness item, be sure to get up from your position near it once in a while so your dog can have a turn too.
Camera to hang off a dog's collar
Darling; you just know that I am working on a re-write of The Hound of the Baskervilles, from the dog's point of view. What a bunch of rubbish, all of that maligning of a wonderful dog. Ginger the spoiled big city Sheltie here to tell you how you can collect evidence to protect your dog's good reputation in life, in court, even in a silly, disgusting, anti-canine Victorian-era detective novel. It's the Pet's Eye View Camera from Discover This. Hangs right off your dog's (hopefully diamond) collar and takes artistic snapshots automatically at intervals you can set. Arthur Conan Doyle lied, lied, lied, but this camera will not. Shows exactly where a doggie has been; and let me tell you, I got some fabu shots inside Bergdorf Goodman today!
Electronic access door for dogs
This time, we've found a dog-related product that is truly adoorable. It's the Plexidoor Electronic pet door that lets your dog in and out while keeping thieves, crooks, marauders, rapists and dog poisoners out. The Plexidoor works with signals sent to it from an RFID device on your loved-one's collar. RFID does not stand for Right for Fido. Rather, it means Radio Frequency Identification Device. The door opens only when your K-9 is in close proximity to it. Every country house should be outfitted with one. No more doggy and human emergency runs outside at 3.a.m.
Treadmill for K-9s
Ginger the spoiled big city Sheltie here, asking you, do I look like I need a treadmill, svelte as I am? Of course I don't. What between my walks in the Tuileries Gardens and my romps in the private Grammercy Park (every dog's human should be well-connected), I get plenty of high-class exercise. Yet how can you possibly be spoiled if you don't have some material things you don't need? Besides that, let me tell you, I have seen some over-eaters who really do need the Pawwws doggy treadmill. I mean, one Dachshund I know and who shall remain nameless waddles like a duck, but don't try throwing her in the water because she'll sink faster than a mutt at Westminster. Not PC, I know, but I should worry and lose my figure. Consumer testimonials on the Pawwws site include one that says a cat used one of these treadmills with regularity. Hah! And pigs will fly. What dog in her right mind is going to believe that a cat uses a treadmill?
Accesory laden dog leash
We like to be prepared. We really do, but so often we forget one thing or another when taking our furry pals out for a jaunt. Well no more! This leash has everything but the kitchen sink attached. Here goes: Ezeleash features a hand sanitizer (just in case you have to touch something nasty), poop bags (did we mention touching something nasty?), a cell phone pocket (to order pizza on the way home), and so much more. I'm impressed with the hook they included to hold the full poop bag--after all, who wants to carry that? They call this all-in-one device the "future of urban dog walking" we call it pretty clever.
Climate controlled dog carriers
If you think like us, then you think that a bon voyage can't be truly bon until it is a bone voyage. That's why we're so excited about the next generation of climate-controlled pet carriers coming onto the market in Fall 2008 from Komfort Pets. Ingeniously engineered, the carriers keep our doggies cool when it's hot, and warm when it's not. The Komfort Pets site shows Hollywood dazzlers at a splashy carrier event - there's Paris and Ricky and Mario and even Tony Bennett. Animal lovers will be tickled to know that Tony's son Danny once had a band Quacky Duck and His Barnyard Friends. But for us, the biggest celeb associated with Komfort Pets is Dr. Paul Irwin, former Prez and CEO (chewing executive officer) of The Humane Society of the United States. He gives the climate-controlled carriers from Komfort Pets his seal of approval. Seal, animal lovers; it's a dog of a joke.
