DINOS are Dogs In Need Of Space…good dogs who for any of a number of good reasons (fear, training, health, aggression are just a few) should not be approached without an ok from their human.  And MDIFs, well they are the well-meaning humans who rush up to introduce their dog to unknown dogs without asking first.  This blog post by Jessica Dolce, a rescue activist and alum from our Portland store, nails what it feels like to be on the other end of one of those cheery encounters, and she nailed it so well that the blog went viral.  The response prompted her to create the beautiful poster below to educate all dog owners to ‘Ask First’.  The poster is available in 4 languages, and the handout is available in English or Dutch. Both are free to print, forward and share.

Stay tuned for the new date on our Lilly’s Fund-raiser & celebration of Lilly the Hero Pit Bull (which was scheduled for this afternoon).

If you don’t know about Lilly, you can read her story of undeniable courage & loyalty on her web site. She’s a true hero, and the sweetest dog you could ever meet.  You can also read about & donate to Lilly’s Fund here.

We don’t currently carry the Organic Chicken formulas, so we don’t anticipate that you will have any of this recalled food in your freezer, but we want to keep you informed on all recalls. If you do have any of the recalled bags, you may return them to us regardless for a full refund.  Please read the recall for details on where to find the ‘Best If Used By’ date.

We’re closing at 4 pm to count all the kibbles and bits….we’ll be back on our usual schedule tomorrow, 10-7 Monday thru Saturday and 10-6 on Sunday.

We want to help The Animal Rescue League reach its year end fundraising goal, so we’re donating 20% of every bed sold this Saturday and Sunday Dec. 15-16 to ARL.

We’ve got plaids and corduroys and herring bones and tweeds, in microfiber that feels like velvet, or plush faux fur or microlinen that has the strength of microfiber and the look of linen.

For example, you may have seen Taj snoozing in one of these Loungers in the window of SEE Eyewear at 125 Newbury Street:

But wait, you say you’ve got a BIG DOG? How about this new Crescent Bed in Courtyard Grey microfiber, in stock in Large and Extra Large. It’s reversible too; just flip it over for a totally different look:

Or how about something for the teeny tiny ones, like these Buttercup nest beds, in beautiful solids and patterns. They can lay flat, and they’re reversible too!

But these are just examples of some of what we have in the store. Choose any bed, and we’ll donate 20% of the price to ARL of Boston.

Let’s team up to make this a joyful (and warm & cozy) holiday for all!

This year, the lovely luxury pet friendly boutique hotel, the XV Beacon, has graciously offered the use of a parlour room for the photos.  Yes, Zippy, there is a Santa Paws!

Where:  XV Beacon

When:   Sunday, Dec. 16 from 1-5 pm

$25 includes silver photo ornament, professional digital photo, and optional prints for purchase….call us at the store to reserve!

This event is a guaranteed good time.  We hope to see you there!

Were you there for the 2010 Photos with Santa?  Then you’ll remember our friend and fab photographer Amy Hawkes of Click Imagery, who’s donating her talent and time!  Our theme that year was modern design.  Or perhaps you were with us last year, when we hosted a salty coastal photos with Santa?

Actually, not at all!  First of all, some apparel is unquestionably functional, sometimes necessary.  It’s a fact that some dogs are miserable without winter protection.  How do we know?  They shiver, a lot.  Or they refuse to go outside.  You can see what the rock salt does to tender paws.  Owners can get frustrated when accidents happen inside the house, and dogs pick up on that.  Some dogs, of course, are fine without any barriers to the cold or the salt, and we aren’t trying to change that.

But there’s another reason we love apparel. It makes people smile, and it makes dogs happy, because they love the attention and the positive energy.  The happiness is contagious.  Try to walk down the street with a dog in a sweater without strangers asking if they can pet your dog.  It’s nearly impossible!

Here’s Zip looking very dapper in a Christmas plaid bowtie. Good golly, this guy is cute…..!

Her mum settled on this jacket, the Double Diamond from RC.  This coat miraculously fits almost all breeds really well.  Take a look at the fit on Kayla: full underbelly coverage, and it reaches almost to the base of her tail on top as well.  She has good clearance for potty breaks, and the the velcro was wide enough to adjust in the coat for a snug fit around her belly.  I also like the highly reflective piping, for safety…especially with little dogs with dark fur.  Watch for all of our apparel on our online store, which is rumored to launch next week.  Meantime, here are some pix of Kayla, girl on the town, sporting a fine mohawk as well as a spiffy new coat!

Animals are very sensitive to barometric pressure & will sense the storm’s approach.  Don’t be surprised to find your pet sitting under the dining room table, or curling up in the closet.  Some animals get simply excited, but some become very anxious, which can manifest in unwanted behavior (which might be hard for you to handle positively if you are under stress too). So anticipate this, and remember that tired animals are good animals….give them as much exercise and stimulation as you can before the storm hits.   We’ve got plenty of other solutions to help bring down the anxiety level (see below).  Animals pick up on cues from you; try to keep your level of excitement & stress down, and the house quiet.  Try playing mellow music & keeping the lighting low (sounds nice doesn’t it?).

Here’s our severe storm prep list for pets:

- 3-5 day supply of food, water and litter

- a manual can opener

- a week’s supply of medications that your pet may be taking, including instructions (in case you and your pet are separated)

- photos of you and your pet together (in case you are separated)

- copies of your pets’ vaccinations, medical records and prescriptions in a clean plastic bag or waterproof container

- reliable collar or harness & leash, by the door for quick access

- current license & rabies tag securely attached to collar

- current ID tag securely attached to collar (we have an engraver in both stores; it only takes a few minutes)

- chews & toys to keep house-bound pets occupied & stimulated (bully sticks, food-dispensing toys, cat nip, bones, wanded or laser toys, puzzle toys)

- remedies or tools to support anxious animals.  We highly recommend the Thundershirt (available now for cats as well as dogs, and we carry both).  It wraps your pet in close-fitting, stretchy fabric & stimulates touch points that are soothing.  We’ve had one return in the years we’ve been selling them, in both stores (the manufacturer has a satisfaction guarantee).   We also recommend Rescue Remedy Pet, and Homeopet Storm Stress and Feline Storm Stress for remedies, and Happy Traveler Chews and capsules as well as Pet Naturals’ Calming Chews for Cats or Dogs.  Or try the Comfort Zone diffuser or spray for cats or dogs. We’ve found that the cat version works extremely well, and the dog Comfort Zone, when your dog responds to it, has dramatic results. All of these anxiety-relief products work on different ‘planes’:  herbal/nutritional; emotional/energy; primal/pheromone.  Come see us for help in clarifying which are best for your animals.