April showers bring May Flowers

This is the time of year when people are spending hours outside working in their gardens and planting beautiful lush flowers. We pick the right hanging baskets, buy new planters and pick out the perfect flowers for our yard. All the showers we get in April, bring out our beautiful flowers in our yard.

Pets love being outside on those beautiful spring days, especially when we are outside with them. I think at times we as pet owners forget to be extra safe with our lawn and garden choices. There are precautions to take when choosing the right flowers, especially when we have pets.

We love fragrant flowers and all that they attract. Our dogs are often very curious and have a great sense of smell and can get themselves into trouble. Sometimes dogs will consume the foliage or flowers of our plants and these flowers could cause bad side effects, and at times~ could be life threatening.

There are many dog websites that can help us decide on which pet friendly plant to choose and which pesticides are safe for our animals. You can visit the ASPCA or visit the Poison Control site to actually see what these flowers look like.

A quick reference for toxic plants for dogs are:

• Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Morning Glory (Ipomea sp.)
• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
• Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
• Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)

Don’t’ forget that bulbs can be toxic too!
• Daffodil
• Tulip
• Hyacinth

If you are unsure about the flower you have chosen, you can ask your Veterinarian or ask the nursery for help. If you think your dog has ingested any toxic flowers, call your Poison Control Center asap or visit your Vet!

Grab your dog toys, family toys and get outside and enjoy this weather and watch your flowers grow knowing they are safe for your dog and family!

Leash Training your Wild One

We love to buy the precious leashes for our dogs, the fancy crystal dog leashes , the colorful leashes , the all leather dog leashes, there are just so many!

The problem is we buy these great dog leashes thinking that our pooch will follow directions and just be as cute as the leash itself!

So, here are the tips if you are going to go for the fantastic leash for your dog and have him strut in style!

• Make sure you hold the dog leash with your dominant hand and place through the hoop. If you got a wild one, your other hand should be a foot or so up from where the leash attaches to the dog collar.
• Try to walk your dog on the left side. If they stray to the other side, guide them back to the left side.
• If your dog still continues to pull on the dog leash, slow down and wait until he turns back to you. Then after he settles down, praise him and continue on your walk.
• If your doggie still decides in his mind that he wants to walk in front of you and pull on the leash, invest in a dog halter or dog harness to help them along the way.
• Be patient and keep trying.

Walking your dog should be a super easy routine of everyday life, however there are those dogs that decide they like the couch better and refuse to participate, even after you got them the cutest and nicest dog leash in town! So, maybe buy two, a really cute dog leash for his "good days" and a leather stern looking dog leash for the days he gets a little "crazy".

If you are still having trouble with your "heck raiser", try finding a good dog trainer to help you along.

Out with the OLD.... IN with the NEW!

As the long winter tries to dwindle away, it is time to pack up those doggie turtle necks and boots and unpack the bright colors and nifty little cotton shirts for your dog! Yes…it is that time of year again; time to go shopping for new spring clothes not just for you but for your Pooch too!


Since the weather is BEAUTIFUL it is time to get our dogs out of the house and take them to their favorite hang outs. Going to meet up with their old friends is like going to a high school reunion… they have to be dressed to impress and look their best! So what a better way to look their best than in new spring dog outfit that is sure to make every dog they pass drool.

Your little angel will look FABULOUS in the new spring plaid dog dresses. These are perfect outfits for her to wear out on a beautiful spring day. The dresses come in Blue/green, Pink/Lavender, and Pink/Green.

Sometimes when going out to the park they can get a little dirty, so a cute dress might not be the right option, so why not try one of our new “dog sliders.” They are the perfect piece of jewelry and come in a variety of designs to match the perfect dog outfit or just to wear. If you are planning on a formal occasion such as taking her picture in the bluebonnets or any other beautiful flowers, the Hand Painted Tulips formal doggie dress with puffed sleeves ~ it would be the perfect outfit.

So often we are so worried about putting the little girls in cute puffy doggie dresses, big dog bows, and cute dog shoes, that we forget that our little fellers want to look like a stud too. Their main mission is to impress all the girls, so what a better way to do that than wearing out one of our Springtime Neck Ties. They are a complete collar set with three interchangeable printed neck ties. These are perfect for the little guy who doesn’t want to wear anything fancy, but still look handsome.

While you in the midst of packing up your doggie winter clothes for the year and getting ready to buy new spring ones, don’t forget about your little loved ones, they are ready to show off their legs too!

Spring Forward!

Spring Ahead Sale going on at Doggie Couture Shop!

Everyone needs a Spring Cleaning and with the cleanout, it's time for new items!~ Throw away your pooch's old wintery clothes and dirty nasty bowls and SPRING for some new stuff from Doggie Couture Shop!

From now until Wednesday 3/17 you can get 20% off by using coupon code SPRING! Hurry so that you don't miss out on the great deals like:

Juicy Couture Dog Daisy Velour Hoodie in Vivid Pink
Cradle Pink or Black Bed

Crayon Tank
Ballerina Dress in Black

or great treats like:
Mini Paws Take Out
Pocket Pack Training Treats

We have the hottest selling doggie apparel around and an outstanding selection of dog collars, dog toys and dog accessories! You could even get your doggie some dog jewelry for Easter and the upcoming spring months!

Go ahead SPRING for your best buddy and save 20% tonight and tomorrow!!  Remember to use code: Spring!

We all have our Wish List

As animal lovers, we know that we need to be doing more for animals and for pet organizations everywhere. It is hard sometimes to balance the needs of so many and still be able to focus on what we need and have to do in our own world. Pet adoption is so crucial to the animal world and many of us are fortunate enough to own our pets and maybe are not looking for a new one at this time, BUT… there are so many needs that we can accomplish.

There are Pet Shelter WISH LISTS out there for your local shelter and most items are inexpensive things that we can pick up at our local store to help out. Many agencies have items broken down into categories to assist in any donation amount. You could give money or items for the office or the pets themselves. Any item is appreciated, I promise.

Search for your local animal shelter and see what they need or want and make that step to be a giver. Items can be:

• Bleach/Clorox Cleanup
• Canned dog food
• Chain leashes for dogs
• Dog toys
• Dog treats
• Flea and Tick shampoo
• Frontline
• Laundry Detergent
• Gift cards
• Puppy Pads
• Towels, Sheets and Blankets

You could go ahead and Give BIG and help by donating: dog collars, dog bowls, dog crates or pet taxis.
Whatever your donation; pet items, money or just time go ahead and make the commitment today. You won’t regret it and neither will the animals you help.

Take care of those CHOMPERS

With all the sweets lately, Christmas, Valentine's and now Easter upon us we make sure our teeth are good and healthy. What about your four legged friend? How are his teeth? He doesn't have hands to pick up food so his teeth are his only resource to food and eating.

There are so many products to help us having beautiful healthy teeth and regular trips to our Dentist ensure us a white smile and cavity free but not for dogs. There aren’t Dog Dentists so we have to make sure we are taking care of our best friend’s teeth!

Dogs can get food and items stuck in their teeth not to mention the bacteria/plaque can build up on the teeth and gums and can cause infections. If you do not take are of this tooth decay can set in and could enter your pet’s bloodstream. Infection can cause many health issues and even death.

Other than brushing your dog’s teeth and seeing your Vet for check-ups there are other ways to help maintain your dog’s teeth! It can keep your Vet bills down and keep a happy dog even happier!

There are special toys to help remove the decay on your pet’s teeth such as the
Kong® Stuff'n Teething Stick Combo
The TireBiter™ Bone

There are also dental wipes for dogs, not a substitute for brushing your dog's teeth. They contain chemicals that cling to the teeth and prevent plaque from converting to tartar.

There are warning signs to possible dental problems:

• The first sign of dog dental disease is bad breath, caused by a build-up of bacteria in the mouth.
• Are there discolored, broken, missing or crooked teeth?
• Check for red, swollen, painful or bleeding gums. Look for a yellowish-brown tartar crust along the gum line and for bumps or growths within the mouth.

Remember a responsible pet owner doesn’t neglect their dogs teeth so be sure and check those CHOMPERS!

Great things from Dara Foster

Animals everywhere love Dara Foster and why wouldn’t they~ she is a huge advocate for homeless animals and shelters everywhere, especially in New York City!

Dara Foster, a leading fashion designer became a huge hit in the dog fashion world when she decided to design a collar and leash for her four legged bud, Tulip. She was frustrated with the tacky dog accessories and decided to make her own splash into the dog apparel and dog accessories world and certainly did do that by becoming a pet style expert!

Foster has been the face of pet fashion for quite a while and is a regular pet contributor on pet style for The Today Show on NBC, Dogster.com and has many guest appearances on Animal Planet and E! She recently appeared on the Wendy Williams show as well and makes a huge hit with her doggie fashion show. She also just made her debut on QVC and is totally in demand with her fashion advice for pets.

Great things are coming soon for Dara Foster and all her pet items, a big hit with all the pooches everywhere and a big hit with pet loving parents everywhere!