// Polka dotted dog collars *
* This is a paid sponsored post.
Spring is here and that means color, baby. We love sprucing up our wardrobes with new bright colors after the drab and gloom of winter... and when it comes to our pampered pooches, pink is most definitely it. It's why we're digging the new Pink and White Dots dog collar from Owen and Olivia. It features a bubblegum pink grosgrain ribbon with hot white dots, all backed up with hot pink nylon webbing (the high-breaking strength kind). No stooping for hours to unbuckle your pooch, either - these babies have quick-release buckles (which we swear was invented by a dog owner, because oh seriously, have you ever tried to get a buckle collar off an excited dog?). Matching leash is available and comes in either four (our fave) or six foot lengths. Best of all, the collars are all made in the US of A. The collars come in three other colors too - Lilac, Caribbean Blue and Olive. Which means your pooch's spring wardrobe can be just as colorful as your pocketbook can handle!
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// Ultra-elegant dog crate covers
Woof! (That's doggie talk for hello). My name is Ginger. I'm a spoiled, big city Sheltie. I've got my human wrapped around my little paw. I believe that whether I do or do not have an "accident" in the next month, he could well buy me a designer crate cover from Crate Heaven. Oh wait, I see the actual company name is Crate Haven. These are elegant pieces of furniture that hide the plain wires of your normal crate, sweet crate. There's an Avery, a Harrison, and a Hunter model. My ancestors were from Scotland, so of course I want the Old World Mahogany option on the finish. I just know I'm going to look regal in there, with my elegant white-furred paws crossed, my head lifted, my ears bent over just for the top 1/3, and my tongue in classic "Wouldn't mind a treat at all" position.
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// Polka dot dog bed cover
We're in the navy now! Navy blue that is. Here is the cheerful looking polka dot rectangular dog bed cover from Pottery Barn. 100% cotton and treated with a soil-release finish, these covers have a zipper closure and are machine washable and ironable. Note that the insert is sold separately. Available in small, medium and large. We asked a small dog if she would be offended were we to buy size large for her. She winked. Then she went sniffing around the baseboards, as if to say "So where is my size large polka dot dog bed cover already?"
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// Pink dog dress
We think just about all dogs are pretty in pink. It's hard to resist snapping up lovely outfits in our favorite color, such as this Heart Strings embroidered dog dress. Since the weather is now fine and we are feeling the need to go about town much more often (winter makes us want to hibernate), we'll be dressing doggie up to prance along with us. What better way to announce the season's arrival than a shiny pink organza and satin party dress. Little details--embroidery and a bow--elevate this dress from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Our fuzzy girl will give those spring flowers a run for their money.
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// Outdoor dog beds *
* This is a paid sponsored post.
If there was a "splash" in the dog bed world over the past few years, it's definitely been from Crypton fabrics; stain, moisture, odor and bacteria resistant, these superfabrics (oh come on, you pictured a guy in tights there for just one second) are just perfect for dog beds. But what's even cooler is that the fabric company teamed with hot designers (Michael Greaves) and superstar doggie photographers (William Wegman) to create a huge line of designer dog beds. Coolest of all: DogBedWorks has a fabulous selection of these hot items. We fell in love with the Molly B. outdoor bed, since it's finally spring out here and we're all about the working outdoors with a laptop and wifi whenever possible. The bed's made with fabric specifically made for the outdoors, and is safe to leave outside rain or shine. Easy to spot clean, with a removable cover and the whole thing is washing machine safe. It comes in three sizes from teeny to biggun. Plus, look at that gorgeous green. If that doesn't have you thinking patio season, we don't know what will.
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// J. Crew dog polo
Back in June of 2006, dogs at yacht clubs and gala benefits everywhere were wagging tails, as well they might have. J. Crew just had its initial public stock offering, and the value of its stocks shot up 25% on the first day. What better way to celebrate good times than with a J. Crew Dog Polo. This K-9 garment, though casual, let's other dogs know that your dog has arrived. It's all cotton, it's brick red - and it makes a dog look like he's dressed for a day at an elite prep school. So what's not to love? Look at the pup in the pic; workin' that Q-T factor for all he's worth!
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// Vintage inspired dog clothing
Saturday afternoons you might find us strolling through our favorite Bo-Bo neighborhoods (that's short for bourgeois bohemian) hunting for treasures in vintage clothing shops. We're thrilled that Oscar Newman shares our taste for detail and design. Newman's pink vintage tank is a delightful ensemble for spring inspired by the glorious fashions of the past. You won't find hand-crocheted lace or hand-sewn pearls on just any old doggie tops--it takes a deft touch to create clothing of this caliber. This top reminds us of the Hollywood of yore when starlets strove to sparkle. It'll look smashing with our vintage Dior suit as the family heads out to our next swank event.
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// Woof! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs
We have always been able to laugh at ourselves--we know putting pink tutus on pugs is silly. Thank goodness there are others pet parents in the world who get a joke. That's why we love Andre De Prisco's book: Woof! A Gay Man's Guide to Dogs. De Prisco takes some of the seriousness out of our lives and injects fun. Giggle as you match up different types of gay men (based on profession and personality) with the dogs they gravitate towards. Sure there are touches of practical advice, but we prefer the adorable pictures (love the drag queen cowboy) and the campy writing.
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// Dog life jacket
Did you know that dogs mock dogs that can't swim well by saying that they do "the human paddle"? Here's something to keep your dog safely paddling; The Dog Life Jacket from Barker and Ball. Made from the same materials as life jackets for humans, the K-9 life jacket gives added security for sea, lake, river and pool romps. It's fashionably designed, and red, white and blue; none of that clowny bright orange for our barkers! The pic of this item, with the beautifully-groomed woofer at ocean side, makes us wish we were on Dog Beach right now.
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// Cupcake dog toy
Who doesn't love a Hostess snack! We fondly remember unpacking our brown paper lunch sacks and spotting the telltale iced cupcake inside. We knew that mom really loved us, when she tucked in this tasty chocolate treat (sigh--trans fats didn't exist back then) to liven up the diet of bologna sandwiches. Now that we are pet parents we can lavish the same type of love on our fur children, minus all the calories and sugar highs. Choco Pupcakes are 100% calorie free and 100% healthy for your pup. These plush cupcake toys (two to a package) are a guilt-free treat we know your sweetie will enjoy.
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// Layered outerwear for dogs
Every Tom, Dick and Rover knows that the three secrets to staying comfy warm no matter the degree of chill in the air are layering, layering and layering. That's why we got up on our hind legs and did an excited little dance when we saw Poochonline's layering system for dogs. It's the all weather Tec Coat, aka Zoomies. Behold the waterproof outerwear, and the oh so soft charcoal grey fleece lining. The silver reflective piping is a fashion inspiration. Orange, blue, green or brown; take your pick. The polar fleece shields for use under the Zoomies can also be used as a light-weight sweater. Now listen up dogs; in these hot clothes, you'll be one cool cat. Sizes go up by two-sies, from 8" to 20".
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// Adjustable dog bowl
We love a versatile accessory. Take the new Popware pet feeder from Dexas. This nifty dog station has a multitude of uses. First it can be a traditional feeder that sits flush against the floor and measures just 1.5". But oh no, that's not all. It expands. Pop up the feeder on it's legs and the bowls become much deeper (perhaps for a long day out in the sun, or the addition of a second dog). Sure you're already impressed, but hold on there's more to come: The feeder's bowls are collapsible and pop out of the tray for easy transport to the park or beach. Or for a simple suds in the dishwasher. How about that for a fun and functional design!
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// Treat dispensing dog toy
Old episodes of Lassie didn't work, neither did the cat. Finally we've found a way to keep our dogs entertained for hours--the Treatstik. How does it work? Pretty simple actually: Unscrew the cap and load the plastic stick with your pup's favorite nibbles, screw the top back on and toss it to your pup. Next step is sitting back and watching as your dog tries to shake the treats free or figure our how to open the cap. Either way it's going to take a while. The stick comes in two sizes and a few bright and bold colors. Now all we need is some way to entertain the cat.
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// Chic dog trasport device/carrier
The Juliana Buggy Dog Carrier is black and grey and chic all over. This is one design that won't let just any and every old snot-nosed kid in the airport gawk and poke at your dog. There's mesh so doggy can peek out, but enough of an enclosure and tinted-window-like privacy features that s/he will feel as though s/he is a Hollywood star in a limousine. The Juliana Buggy Dog Carrier functions either as a wheeled joy ride or as a carrying bag. It's recommended for weights up to 22 pounds. The large front entrance gives easy access for and to your dog. We love that the logo on the buggy's side is color-coordinated to the elliptical ornament at the center of the zipper pull.
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// Hemp dog beds *
* This is a paid sponsored post.
Summer's almost here and that means time to retire to the vacation house in the Hamptons. Well, okay, we don't actually have a place in the Hamptons. Actually, we don't have any friends with fabulous vacation homes there that we could mooch off of visit to enjoy the scenery. But mmm, we do love us some Hamptons style, and with the Harry Barker dog bed collection at DogBedWorks, we're spared the financial ruin. This entire collection screams sand and sun with a refined North East style; we went head over claws for their new Hemp Striped Beds (shipping next month). Available as a rectangle or circle, this eco-friendly hemp dog bed is sweet and sleekly striped. It comes in five gorgeous colors (the blue - it's gotta be the blue) and the dog bed covers are 100% organic. The hypo-allergenic pillows are "green fiber" made of recycled post consumer plastic bottles. Best of all, the 5 inch deep(!) pillows are channel quilted, which is genius. It means when you wash the pillow, the filler doesn't end up balled up in one corner. Smart, durable, mildew resistant and available in three different sizes (from 20x26 to 36x44). We're totally splurging on one - okay, or maybe two - of these for the summer.
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// French dog collar
Oh la la, just look at this classy collar from DogInParis. Regardez ce collier haut de gamme de ChienAParis. We absolutely love the way it elevates our dogs' looks. The accessory is made from lambskin; face it -- dogs aren't vegetarians anyway. Color options include Khaki, black, and brown. The Strass buckle and the Eiffel Tower trinket remind us all that Paris sera toujours Paris; Paris will always be Paris. We hear that since Alain Ducasse took over the Jules Verne restaurant in the Tour Eiffel, the food served there is good enough to make a dog sit up and beg. We'll see you on the Champs-Elysee -- with your dog in a Royal collar, bien entendu!
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// Scotty dog earrings
Simply dazzling! That's what we thought about these precious Scotty dog earrings from Kristen Grace. The dangling earbobs are bejeweled with crystals (unlike real diamonds, we won't cry buckets if we lose one of these at the dog park). Delicate (the drop only measures 2"--an understated and elegant length) and feminine, these accessories are just the thing to give any ensemble a lift. And if Scotty's are your favorite (and we completely understand your predilection), why these are likely to become part of your everyday uniform of style.
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// Pampered pooch: the movie!
It's been five years since Legally Blonde 2 - five years since a truly pampered pooch got a starring role in a Hollywood film. That's just too long, in our opinion, but thankfully the powers that be at the movie studios are gearing up for the September 2008 release of a live action film called, and we kid you not: Beverly Hills Chihuahua. It's a little tale of an over-the-top pampered pooch (our favorite kind!) who gets lost while on vacation in Mexico. (We're thinking Home Alone 2 crossed with Legally Blonde, yes?) The film is packed full of recognizable celebs, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Selma Hayek, Drew Barrymore (who narrates for the Chi), Edward James Olmos, Piper Perabo, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Cheech Marin and more. For more information about the film including two adorable screenshots from the film featuring the wee Chi, check out IMDB's page on the film. This is one post-summer release we'll be watching closely, so stay tuned!
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// Dog sculpture by Chen Chanwei
The Chinese zodiak assigns an animal to the year of one's birth, in twelve year repeating cycles. Some renouned humans born in years of the dog are Socrates, George Gershwin, Benjamin Franklin, Herbet Hoover, and David Niven. But far be it from us to suggest that the Beijing Olympics should be boycotted because in many parts of China, people eat dog meat. Rather, we today bring to your attention the sculpture People Belong to Dog by artist Chen Changwei, born in 1973 in Qujing, Yunnan. The sculpture is a limited edition, and part of a series of the zodiak cycle of animals, all realized in pate de cristal.
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// Personalized dog beds *
* This is a paid sponsored post.
When dog beds become comfier than human beds, (and believe us, they're there already--our pooches here at Pampered Puppy have several we'd love to have in "human size") how can your dog protect his territory and keep all that comfort for himself? Easy: how about a personalized, monogrammed designer dog bed from Dogbedworks? These classic rectangular pillow beds come in a variety of hip, home-decor friendly colors (chocolate with one of four contrasting trims, cranberry or navy with tan trim, pink with chocolate brown trim, or olive with pink or orange trim) and a great big monogram in the center in a yummy serif font we're digging on. The durable beds come in four different sizes from wee (24x20) to hugemongous (42x36) to ensure that every pooch can have a personalized bed all their own, and what's even better is that they're washable. The covers zip off and are pre-shrunk so they're safe for the washer too. We totally want the chocolate with mint trim version for our offices; the olive with pink (shown, right) is also just the cutest color combo ever (think the softer side of Rambo).
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