It's not too late!

If you are running behind and don’t have time to go out and buy your pet a Halloween costume, there are many things sitting around your house that you can figure out a SPOOKY get up for your pooch!

Here are a few ideas for a Homemade pet costume: (Remember you can use regular clothes, items and hair color to make your dog be just about anything)

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• Skunk – use white hair color spray down the back of your black pooch
• Prisoner in Jail - Buy an orange sweater and put a number of the back
• Zebra – use hair color as well to make stripes
• Disco Dog – buy an afro at a Halloween store and stick on your dog with some beads

There are many things you can do with stuff around your house to make a homemade pet costume. Be creative and let the kid’s participate, but make sure whatever you put on your pet or decide to put him in, that it is a safe item for your pooch.You can purchase many grooming products to help the transition from cute to COOKY.

Broken cell phone? Don't trash it, donate it!

How many broken cell phones do you have in your “junk drawer” or in a closet?
I have so many, some of which I give to my 9 year play with. Why not do something good with those old broken down cell phones?

The American Kennel Club has the AKC Humane Fund that will help raise money for pet organizations and grant-making.

Through the fund raising efforts of the American Kennel Club they are able to support organizations that:

-Encourage the bond between people and animals, especially the relationship between dogs and mankind.
-Provide for well-being of all dogs, no matter what breed.
-Raise awareness and educate the public about responsible pet ownership.

Click on the links below to find out more about programs supported by the AKC Humane Fund.

• Hall of Fame
• Awards for Canine Excellence
• Community Achievement Awards

If you are interested in applying for a AKC Grant you can download the form here or click to donate to the AKC Humane Fund.

The AKC Humane Fund is a not-for-profit charity and DoggieCoutureshop.com supports the AKC and the love of all animals.

Take a PICTURE It lasts longer… and you can win too!

Doggie Couture Shop is having their first Halloween Pet Photo Contest! Wouldn’t you love to win a $50.00 gift certificate to Doggie Couture Shop to spend on whatever you want for your little one? Maybe you might want some Fall Treats or a precious new plush Fifi toy!

Heck, with Doggie Couture’s great prices, you could get a couple with a $50.00 gift card!

Maybe you would prefer a sweater or football vest or maybe you want to go all out and get your baby a beautiful new Falling Leaves Holiday Dress.

Whatever your “wants” are for your doggie, Doggie Couture Shop has the thing! That is why you MUST enter the Doggie Couture Halloween Photo Contest! Hurry, as the deadline is October 31st.
Email your photo’s to: sales@DoggieCoutureshop.com and keep your fingers crossed.Winners will be announced on November 1st.

So hurry, snap that photo and send it in!

SPIT out that gum!

You wouldn’t think that chewing gum could hurt your dog, but this SPOOKY season, BEWARE cause it can! When your kids are unloading their Halloween treats make sure you keep your doggie away from the candy and especially the gum, especially the sugar free gum!

The Xylitol in sugarless gum can be toxic, and can cause liver failure in your dog. According to the Animal Poison Control Center, last year they managed over 170 sick pets after eating products containing Xylitol.

Items that contain Xylitol are:

• sugarless chewing gum
• sugarless candy
• mouthwashes and other oral care products
• oral pharmaceuticals, such as certain types of vitamin supplements
• sweeteners packaged for use in the kitchen

Xylitol is a sugar-alcohol sweetener found in sugar-free human food products such as chewing gum, candy, baked goods as well as other products. Dogs that ingest certain items with Xylitol can develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, which can cause weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, collapse and seizures. Not what any pet owner wants to go through.

If you find that your pet has eaten candy or gum and you are unsure what the active ingredients are, call your local Poison Control Center or vet immediately. Symptoms can occur in 15-30 minutes after ingesting the product.

Don't take this litely it CAN happen. According to Snopes this is a true and correct warning. For a list of other products that can hurt your pet check with your vet or search the internet.

So, keep purses, treat bags, and candy out of the reach of our furry little friends and it will keep you and your best friend out of the Animal ER!

Just "strolling" along!

Ok, its beautiful weather outside, people are walking and running and enjoying and exercising! As I was taking the kid’s to school the other day, I noticed a “odd looking” baby in one of the strollers of one of the “fit and trim walkers of the neighborhood”. Turns out, the weird looking baby with a tail was her Yorkie, Sam. I can do that! I can take one of my three canine’s on a brisk walk in the morning! I can look cute doing it too!

Ok, so.. I doubt Copper can go in a stroller, so it will have to be one of the Dachshunds! Cookie really should be walking and I hate to stress her out so it will have to be Toby!
Which pet stroller to choose from? There are so many!! Any color, any size and any price! There is the Special Edition Stroller and this dog stroller comes in blue pink or sage, there is the Sports XL Stroller, really liking this one.

The plain stroller with the umbrella attached is wonderful! This might be exactly what I need, not too fancy but precious and cute, and for a “speed walker” like myself. This Pet Stroller has a removable umbrella, rear storage for treats, and water. It has rear safety breaks and is washable. What a great price at Doggie Couture Shop!
So, If you are going to take the big plunge like me and try to exercise with your dog, check out all the great pet strollers at Doggie Couture Shop. The prices are great and there is such a variety!
Enjoy and happy Strolling and don't forget his doggy jogging suit!

Picture Perfect!

As pet owners sometimes we can get a little crazy and “starstruck”. I do believe that my little Copper, pitbull mix is the most precious thing. I call him “cop a lop”, my pet name for him.

Maybe your dog looks just adorable in that little Halloween costume or the new dress you bought her, or all bundled up in her little sweater and you just MUST snap a photo! How could you not? We have the opportunity to share it now because October is ASPCA's Adopt-A-Shelter Dog photo contest!

The ASPCA will be selecting the winners and your potential winner could be on the ASPCA website and receive a Prize Pack (Lots of fun stuff!)as the winner! Maybe this is his or her big break!

Make sure to enter immediately  the deadline is October 31. If you are a “Twitter Tweeter”, use this hashtag to tweet on this event- @aspca and #DogsinLovePhotoContest

You could also join the Dog Channel’s Halloweenie Dog Costume Contest, deadline is October 27th.

Is your buddy getting "Pudgy"?

With winter fast approaching and the weather outside changing, Fido may not be getting his exercise~chasing birds and Frisbees and frolicking in the sun and may pack on a few pounds or so.

Since we all try to take care of ourselves with our memberships to the gym and our “mall walking” friends, why not let your best friend look trim and healthy too!

The new pet treadmill is wonderful! Exercise anytime, anywhere, any weather! 

Treadmill training can give a dog a great workout regardless of weather or environment, allowing owners to maintain a watchful eye. It provides increased muscle definition, toning, improves vitality, increases life span and can help curb destructive behavior or excess energy often associated with the lack of regular exercise. Often it is used as rehab for injuries to dogs as well.

These treadmills come in three sizes to best fit your dog and his size, small, med and large for the big boys!

Why not put the pet treadmill next to your and throw in a video (maybe “Homeward Bound” or something) and start walking! What a great way to “bond” with your buddy!

Designer Costumes, Beauty Products and Grooming Solutions for Your Puppy

Your puppy deserves your intense love and care. As an intelligent and dedicated dog owner you must be aware with the best ways of taking care of your doggy. In order to help you in taking care of your puppy, specialized puppy boutiques help you by offering various products made for your puppy. You can provide unique look to your dogs with help of designer dog costumes and various dog grooming accessories available at online dog boutiques.

Online dog boutiques offer everything for grooming of your dog. You can shop for every stuff of your dog ranging from shampoos, cleaner and cleansers for your dog, to designer dog costumes for all occasions. Halloween is on its way and you must be looking for fun stuff to make your dog look different from others. Upscale dog boutiques are prepared to serve all such requests with best products in dog grooming market designed and developed by prominent dog fashion designers.

On Halloween, you can select a designer dress for your dog from the upscale costumes collection of Deni Alexander. Deni Alexander designs collection has enough options of costumes to choose from. You can select an awesome design matching with your preferences for your doggies. Hottest dog costumes specially designed for Halloween in mind gives you several ideas to groom your dog in a fun and unique way.

Halloween is the time, when dog owners experiment a lot with looks of their favorite doggies. Some hot options in Halloween Dog Costumes this year are Dogzilla Dinosaur Costume, Fairy Princess Costume, Canine Cop Costume, Piggy Pooch Costume and Giraffe Dog Costume. All these costumes are designed to give maximum comfort and gracious look to your doggies.

Nowadays, the concept of online shopping is very popular among dog owners. They prefer shopping from online dog boutiques. It gives them a chance to explore dog fashion costumes designed by several top dog fashion designers. Apart from that, the excellent customer assistance facility provided by online dog boutiques makes dog shopping experience more pleasant. Easy and secure ordering systems ensure safety of your personal data, and you get your ordered products delivered to your doorstep within 2-3 working days.

So, what are you waiting for? Explore online dog boutiques and their hot dog fashion products, and give your doggies a distinguished look on this Halloween.

Posh Puppy Boutique is luxury dog boutique, carrying Dog clothing, dog carriers, dog toys, dog collars and more. With great brand names like Juicy Couture Dog, Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier, Chrome Bones, and other designer dog clothing. For more information please go: http://www.poshpuppyboutique.com/

No swine for Fido!

I know that around our house, life has been odd and a bit scary with the whole “swine flu” thing going around.

When I was at the grocery store purchasing more antibacterial hand sanitizer, I started to wonder about the H1N1 and pets. I cannot imagine them not being able to contract this horrible virus when the pets are lying in bed with the kids, and spending countless hours with them.

After much research, I found that Animal health expert says H1N1 flu strain has never been shown to transmit to dogs and cats.

Dogs and cats do have their own versions of pet influenza viruses. The canine influenza virus is a influenza Type A H3N8 virus, and the feline version is Type A H5N1 influenza virus. (The numbers and letters after the type denote the numbers and types of proteins on the surface of the virus.

So, although your pet can get contract a cold and can have other medical conditions, they cannot get the dreaded H1N1. What good news, one less thing to worry about.

For humans, continue to do what you are doing until flu season is over:

• Use tissue to cover coughs and sneezes. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that people stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

So, keep well and no worries for that old pig flu for Fido!

October is such a fun and spooky Month, lots going on with events, parties and just life but can also be a productive life changing month for you and your family.

If you have been thinking of adopting a dog, now is the time to do it. October is Adopt a Dog Month! I personally believe and support supporting shelters and adopting shelter dogs and I know that you can too.

Each October, the American Humane Association along with local animal shelters across the country in promoting Adopt-A-Dog Month. Adopt a Dog Month is a large national campaign to highlight homeless dogs waiting to be adopted.

October is focused and used to encourage people to visit their local animal shelter first to adopt their new best friend."Right now there are millions of loving dogs in every size and shape imaginable waiting anxiously in local shelters for a home of their own", says the  American Humane's President and CEO.

There are many types of dogs to choose from when you go to a shelter, different sizes, shapes, energy levels and breed. Have an open mind and a open heart when you visit but make sure that the dog you choose fits your family and your lifestyle.There is a adoption process to go through and ways that you can find out if you are ready for a dog.

Why not spoil your new friend and get him everything he needs before he gets there. Your new buddy will need a- ID tag, food, bowls, leash, collar, dog den, and toys.
If you get a puppy, make sure you have housebreaking items, and lots of chew toys as well!

Enjoy your October and your new friend.