By Marni Jameson[1]

“I thought you were planning our vacation" my husband, Dan, says, looking over my shoulder as I Internet surf.

 I am, I say.

"By shopping for a dog gate?"

To enjoy my vacation, I need to know Theo and Oliver have a nice, safe place to stay inside the house, I say.

"To enjoy my vacation, I need to know we have a nice, safe place to stay outside our house, like a hotel room."

This one is good, I tell him, but isn't wide enough to reach across the hallway. This one is sturdy, but you'd have to drill it into the wall. This one is too tall to step over. This one looks like a chicken coop. Who knew this would take more research than a master's thesis? Oh, hey! This one comes with a toy box attached.

"For goodness sakes, they're dogs," Dan says.

They're family, I correct.

"They have custom feather beds, which cost lord knows how much, and a pet sitter coming three times a day. Now they need a special gate?"

So they have their own apartment, I explain.

"Next you'll be sending in filet mignon every night."

Look at them, I tell him. They know I'm leaving. We turn to see Theo and Oliver, our two bichon frises, watching with worried expressions.

"They have each other," Dan says.

They won't have me, I sniff.

"You're way overestimating yourself."

Are you saying they won't miss me?

"I'm saying they have a pet sitter."

You'd replace me with a pet sitter?

"What I meant was …"

Don't answer that, I warn, and go back to gate shopping. I finally find one that meets my criteria: Removable but stable, attractive yet functional, with cherry wood sliding panels that won't mar the wall. I order it.

"How much was that?" Dan asks.

Whatever I say will be the wrong answer, so I dodge. Don't worry. I'll take it out of the hotel budget. How do you think they'd like their steaks?

Petcentric central

I don't apologize for fawning over my dogs like a tween girl over Justin Bieber. I have lots of company. According to Dallas-based interior designer, author and dog lover Betty Lou Phillips, Americans are becoming increasingly obsessed with their pets, and our homes reflect that. However, we remain well behind the French, who even have a word for their lavish spoiling of dogs — toutoumania.

In Paris, Phillips tells me, a salon offers color restoration for dogs whose fur has faded, and a patisserie for dogs only offers fois gras and carob truffles.

"In both cultures, small dogs are a fashion and household accessory. We spare no expense," says Phillips, whose next book, "French Impressions" (Gibbs Smith Publishers, due Oct. 1), includes a section on toutoumania.

Pup-Pee Solutions is pleased to announce another new retailer partner in US! 

Doghouses.com, one of the two hundred plus Hayneedle online stores, has opened its arms to The Pet Loo! 

Hayneedle began back in 2002, when founders Doug Nielsen, Mark Hasebroock, and Julie Mahloch acquired Hammocks.com and began selling hammocks online. They saw the potential of launching more sites, each devoted to a product category. This became NetShops, where they continued to launch sites focused on home and outdoor living. But at the end of day it's more than larger selection; it's distinctive products that help the customer to create the inviting spaces they envision for their home, right down to their pets![1] 

“Somewhere along the way, ‘style’ started to mean ‘same’. And selection included no more than three choices. Consumers have been limited by store shelves, and by others making decisions that should be theirs. That’s why we’re here. In a sea of retail sameness, Hayneedle and our stores, including Doghouses.com, provide true variety and real selection. At Hayneedle.com, we don’t believe in limits. We believe in giving you options, selection, and an incredibly easy way to shop all of our stores with one shopping cart. We’re here to make sure you find what you love and love what you find!”[2]

While each of their stores offers expansive selection, product assortment remains distinctive. Hayneedle is selective about the products it sells in order to ensure a satisfying shopping experience. They open new specialty stores almost weekly to stay aligned with customer requests. Every day, Hayneedle satisfy customers with outstanding products, prices, and service. Visit hayneedle.com today to experience it for yourself!

[3]

So you’ve made the decision to buy yourself a portable pet toilet. Congratulations! You’re one step closer to a more convenient pet lifestyle.

You’ve jumped online for a bit of research, maybe you’ve listened to your friends talking about them over coffee, or perhaps you’ve even seen them advertised on TV. Yet, it’s not until you finally get to your local pet retailer that you find yourself staring at two or three similar products. Which one do you choose?

There are some key factors for you to consider that will help you to decide what is the right product for you and your pet. The Pet Loo is an original and unique creation, but as we have seen with popular inventions in the past, once a well planned idea is launched to the public it is only a matter of time until another person or company tries to use the idea as their own.

While you may see variations of Loo’s in the market, you can rest assured that there is only one Pet Loo!

Accept no imitations! The Pet Loo has many well planned design features that other competing pet toilets do not offer:

·       Different sized Loo’s for different sized pets. Not all dogs are the same size, so why should a Great Dane cower on a small square of synthetic grass? Or if you live in compact apartment why should your balcony be taken up by a park sized- pet toilet when your dog is only a miniature breed? Our Pet Loo range covers three sizes, which cater for not only toy to large breeds of dog, but also for cats and furry critters.

·       The patented corrugated tray. The corrugations, or ridges, in the plastic tray aid gravity in draining urine away from the synthetic grass. The tray has also been produced using UV resistant plastics allowing Pet owners the option to use their Loo indoors or out.

·       The catchment jug. The position and size of the catchment jug has been created for easy removal and emptying without having to move or lift the entire unit. This avoids any accidental spillages and makes The Pet Loo one of the easiest to clean pet toilets on the market.

Be wary of cost. Price is not always a clear indicator of quality, nor should it be something to shy away from. After all, the cost of disposable puppy-pads, or other temporary absorbent mats, can cost thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a dog. The Pet Loo was designed to be as strong as possible so it could outlast the dog using it, and while it is not claimed to be unbreakable, the money saved from a one-off purchase far out-weighs the initial cost.

So before you hit the shops why don’t you click on our website, watch our videos and read our reviews. This way you won’t have to accept the imitations because you will know that The Pet Loo is best Loo for the job!

**The Pet Loo is a Globally Patented Product**

The study says dog ownership can decrease the chances of children being obese by as much as 50 per cent.

They are called man's best friend, but they could also be the best weapon in the fight against childhood obesity. A new study indicates dog ownership may also be the antidote to junk food, computer games and television which many say causes childhood obesity. 

Jo Salmon from Deakin University in Victoria was the lead researcher on the project which looked at obesity levels among kids with and without dogs.

"We found that young children who are aged around five to six years of age are 50 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese if they own a dog, compared to those who don't own a dog," Dr Salmon said.

The study also found there were health benefits for older children with dogs.

For 10 to 12-year-olds, 30 per cent who did not have a dog suffered weight problems compared to 27 per cent of their peers who have a pet.

Dr Salmon says the health benefits come even if the children do not walk the dog regularly.

"We looked at whether or not the frequency of dog walking might explain this association of perhaps all children who own a dog or walking more frequently with their dog," he said.

"But this didn't explain it, so the way we interpret our data is we think maybe they are outside playing with the dog and just spending more energy generally and playing with the dog and in fact it's not through dog walking, but just through playing." Dr Salmon says the results span the socio-economic divide.

"When we adjusted … the family's economic status and the neighbourhood's level of economic status, we found that this association between dog ownership and children's weight status persisted," he said. And dog owners agree children and canines are a good mix.

John is the owner of Sam, a black Labrador and he also has children.

"Walking a dog is one thing, that's very sort of perambulatory," he said. "But if you're a kid and a dog, you chase balls, you play soccer with them, you rumble with them, wrestle them on the carpet even if you're watching TV," he said. "So it's activity and it's also a mind thing as well."

I have 4 dogs and accidents have been common place. I have purchased 2 other similar products but this one was the best.

The clean-up is very easy and the dogs really use it. One of my dogs doesn't use it all the time, but not all dogs are as easy to learn as others.

Please note that I have never trained my dogs to use them. No time. I have simply put this out. It is the only one I have purchased 2 of. It is sturdy, not too low to the ground and well designed.

Clean-up is even better than the one which uses washable pads as there is no intermediate grate for the urine to linger on. — REALLY WORKS

More: Click Here

If the fur is flying around the office today and you hear a little more whimpering coming from your boss’s office, don’t jump to any doggone conclusions that things are worse than you thought.

Those sounds just may be coming from his or her four-legged friend.

Friday June, 25^th was Take Your Dog to Work Day. The Humane Society of the United States and Petplan are using the day to ask businesses to consider programs that allow employees to bring their dogs to work.

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, nearly one in five companies in the U.S. allow pets in the workplace.

Studies have shown that employees who bring their dogs to work tend to be more efficient, happier and healthier in the workplace, the organizations claim.

“We share everything with our four-legged family members – our joys, our sorrows, sometimes even our lunch. It seems only natural that we also share our work lives with our pets,” says Natasha Ashton, co-founder of Petplan.

If you can’t quite convince the boss of the benefits of bringing Fido to work, you might want to get him or her a copy of “Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces,” published by the HSUS.

“In the midst of tough times, employers can improve morale and support the human-animal bond by relying on ‘Dogs at Work’ to develop and implement a workable – and free – program that works for everyone,” says Jennifer Fearing, the organization’s chief economist.

And in case you were wondering, the HSUS says 50 dogs come to work at its three offices in Washington, D.C. They are kept behind baby gates in each employee’s cubicle.[1]

Mia Wedgbury

Tobi Skovron, CEO of Pup-Pee Solutions, has a brief chat about the two new additions to the company’s ever-growing pet waste management product lines.

How long has it taken to get these two new lines to reach the shelves (from brainstorm to creation)?

Pee-Pods have been in the works for over twelve months. We were trying to bring the right product to that market and had so many varying options. We trialed each of these options and the only one that really made sense is what you can see today:

Click here to see what Pee-Pods are all about!

Where did the idea of Pee-Pods and Wee Sponge come from?

There were a couple of factors that bought us to launching Pee-Pods but it all boils down to Pup-Pee’s desire to be revolutionary in the industry. Engrained in Pup-Pee’s DNA is the ability to deliver innovative, first class products of need.

Pee-Pods fit neatly inside our value and proposition system - to make life easier for pet owners and give them more time to enjoy the benefits of animal companionship.

When we first introduced The Pet Loo to the global pet industry we revolutionised the way in which pets toilet. The introduction of Pee-Pods is enhancing that experience and changing the game again.
What’s more, Pee-Pods retain the benefit of being safe for people, pets and the planet – something we feel passionate about.

How does Skip to My Loo differ from other training aids on the market?

Skip to My Loo is a synthetic urine that works by mimicking animal urine, as opposed to attractants currently on the market, which can contain harmful ammonia or extracts of smelly animal faeces. When applied to a surface (not only The Pet Loo), Skip to My Loo will result in the dog/cat marking over it with their own scent.

Skip’s formula is first class and unmatched!

“Skip To My Loo… My Darling” was a nursery rhyme I used to sing as a kid. The synergy between that rhyme and our Pet Loo is incredible. So when it came to creating a formulation, the synergy needed to be as strong.

In what way will these new lines will push your company further into the title of ‘Number 1 Pet Waste Management Group’?

When we first launched, we were The Pet Loo Company – a one hit wonder. What we have done with that success as a company is identified unique and specalised areas to roll out into.

We are not interested in being a “me too” we want to set the benchmark on everything we do and maintain our innovative flair. In simple we are heading towards being recognised as the number one pet waste management company in the world. The Pup-Pee team is passionate, strategic and innovative with what we do - That passion cannot be replicated!

The new additions, Part 1

Pup-Pee Solutions are committed to developing innovative pet waste management products and the introduction of their latest developments, the Pee-Pod and Skip to My Loo, is a true example of that.

Pee-Pods have been developed to trap airborne odours contained in pet waste. The innovative Pod fits neatly inside the catchment jug of your Pet Loo. Liquid waste, on contact with the Pee-Pod and the WEE Sponge additive, turns instantly into a gel - this rapid absorption makes for easy disposal. The result significantly reduces airborne odours, furthering the performance of your Pet’s Loo.

A TRUE REVOLUTION!

Pee-Pods have been scientifically formulated using patented technology to blend nature and science – creating a product that uses natural materials to give supernatural results! With the Wee Sponge in a Pee-Pod, The Pet Loo’s catchment jug is able to hold at least 100 times its own weight in liquid and trap odours in a way like no other. Pee-Pods are completely safe to humans & pets and have been engineered using biodegradable materials; further reducing the carbon footprint of pet waste. With a lifespan of up to 3 days per Pee-Pod, once full, throw the whole Pod in the trash and simply replace with a fresh one!

And to create a full Pet Loo and waste management package, this month we have also released Skip to My Loo - a unique attractant that works as a toileting training aid!

The scent has been designed to attract and encourage your dog, puppy or kitten to relieve itself in an area designated by you. It makes a perfect companion for The Pet Loo and can be used indoors or out. Skip to my Loo is not a smelly extract of animal faeces; instead it is a scientifically formulated solution that mimics animal urine to attract your puppy or kitten.

These two new and innovative products can be purchased from your local Pet Loo stockist today!

The inventors and owners of The Pet Loo have certainly marked their territory in the Pet Industry as leaders in Pet Waste Management.   Who would have guessed that a business created in a small apartment in Melbourne Australia would be a hit with the Global Pet Industry and their human friends in Hollywood?

It all began very early this decade when Tobi Skovron and wife Simone found themselves in a wee-bit of a situation when they were forced into apartment-style living with their dog, Subii, in Melbourne.  
  
With no backyard and a dog with toilet training issues, a solution was needed to bring the garden indoors.  And so their hero product, The Pet Loo, was born – an environmentally friendly waste system for Pets that’s ideal for…you guessed it, apartment living.

From a business concept scribbled on the back of a napkin to a product that is now successfully sold in 74 countries it seems that one doggy-door has opened after another.

In 2006 (after 3 yrs or R&D), the couple showcased their invention on ABC’s reality television show ‘The New Inventors’ to see if they had a winner on their hands. The live audience concluded that they did, and they won.   Four years down the track with an Australian Pet Product of the Year award, almost 30 employees, 35 distributors and up to 250 sales staff worldwide, the owners of Pup-pee Solutions moved to LA to try their luck in the American market.

Within a year of moving to the US, their products are already flying out the door at an incredible speed.  Some of the largest retail outlets, online dealers and catalogues, such as Petco and Drs. Foster & Smith, simply can’t keep them in stock long enough. Although their goal is set at being the number one Pet waste management company in the world, they are definitely not barking up the wrong tree.

For more information:  www.thepetloo.com

By Talia Krape,

Los Angeles CA