02.12.09
Posted in Pet toys at 9:27 pm by Pet Luxury
As long as your Fido demands you throw a ball a couple hundred times a day, you might as well make it an eco-friendly ball, right?
The RecycleBall is made from “100% ‘regrind’ first-quality Orbee-Tuff® material that would otherwise be discarded.” In other words, it’s made from recycled rubber.
I love the rubber balls because you can actually wash them (and dry them quickly), and they last a lot longer than tennis balls (I’ve got some of those orange and blue rubber ones that come with the Chuck-It ball throwers). In addition, they are a bit heavier than tennis balls, so you can throw them farther. Also, my vet said they’re better on doggie teeth than tennis ball fuzz (if your dog is a chewer, apparently the yellow stuff can be abrasive for their gums).
So there you go: several reasons to pick up a dog ball made from recycled material.
This one is $12 from Branch.
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12.19.08
Posted in Fish at 3:36 pm by Pet Luxury
Everybody trains their dogs, but not nearly enough people train their fish.
Yes, apparently you really can train fish to do things. With the help of a special fishy agility training set that is.
“This complete set of underwater activities allows you to train your pet fish to perform a series of agility maneuvers, including swimming through hoops, pushing a soccer ball, navigating a slalom course, and more. The set includes two bases and all training paraphernalia and uses techniques similar to those used to modify circus animal behavior–positive reinforcement and shaping using food rewards–by employing a feeding wand that holds a piece of food as you guide your pet Betta, Goldfish, Guppy, or Oscar through a series of hoops, a tunnel, chimney, or under a limbo bar. With the included soccer goal, basketball hoop, and football goalpost, you can train your pet to practice scoring goals, slam dunks, or field goals.”
And if nothing else, the collection of apparatuses will give your fishies something new to swim around in their tank.
Yours for $40 at Hammacher Schlemmer:
The Fish Agility Training Set
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12.15.08
Posted in For Pet Lovers at 6:45 pm by Pet Luxury
Our cats are good at knocking books of shelves, so maybe these bookends would be helpful.
The brass and wood “Curious Cat” bookends would be a fun addition to a pet lover’s home. And they might just be heavy enough to deter your real cats from roaming the shelves and knocking your favorite novels onto the floor (probably not, but we can hope).
The bookends weigh 6 pounds and stand 8 inches high.
The pair is $84 at Iron Accents
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12.08.08
Posted in For Pet Lovers at 7:33 pm by Pet Luxury
I just stumbled upon the Canine Heritage Breed Test and after chuckling, I actually started wondering if I should get it for my parents for Christmas. They’ve got a… well, it’s a dog. It’s a very unique looking dog. We think there’s some german shepard, some terrier (she’s big, but she’s got a beard), some rottweiler, and then we don’t know what the dad is (wolfhound is suggested a lot).
Well, it looks like my parents could use this DNA test to find out who their dog’s daddy is (and maybe get some confirmation on the other breeds that are supposed to be in the mix too).
The test costs $100, but all you have to do is swab your dog’s cheek, stick the thing in a tube, and mail it to the lab (postage included). The results can apparently identify over 100 breeds (the most common).
A pretty expensive gift, but at least my folks would be able to give a definite answer to all those people at the dog park who ask what kind of pooch they have!
Available through Pet Gadgets
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11.25.08
Posted in Dog beds & crates at 10:39 pm by Pet Luxury
If you’re tired of looking at an ugly wire or plastic dog crate, you can check out various dog crate ideas online.
I’m a big fan of wood myself. Just about any kind of wood furniture looks good, and if your dog’s crate is a focal part in your home, you ought to get something that looks good. Consider it a piece of furniture, not just a training tool.
This oak dog crate is quite handsome, and it looks durable as well (it should keep even escape artist dogs secure!). It’s hand-crafted, too, so you know you’re getting a solid piece of furniture.
The oak wood crate costs $350 and is available at 3C’s.
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11.21.08
Posted in Dishes & feeders at 12:32 am by Pet Luxury
If your cat’s feeding bowls are cracked, chipped, stained, or just plain boring, here’s a fun upgrade:
This hand-made wooden pet feeder lets you elevate your cat’s water and food bowls for easy access (15″ high). The “cat” comes with your choice of full tail or bob tail, and it can even have your pet’s name on it.
The fun feeder is made by the folks running the Cocollectibles shop on Etsy, and it can be yours for $30.
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09.23.08
Posted in Pet toys at 7:43 pm by Pet Luxury
Everybody likes to get into the spirit of the holidays, and that can include dogs too. With Halloween just around the corner (okay, it’s over a month away, but the candy is already in the stores, so it must be time to blog about it), you’ll doubtlessly be thinking of appropriate decorations.
One way to add a bit of Halloween cheer to the house is to have pet-approved holiday toys. Specifically, this plush pumpkin dog toy might be just the thing:
“This Halloween, surprise your dog with a new treat: the Pumpkin Plush Dog Toy! Featuring two cute, beady eyes, an adorable celery-colored stem and striking poppy colored body, this toy is the perfect treat for a trick! This toy’s fabric is made from 85% recycled IntelliLoft fibers and stuffed with IntelliLoft fiber fill, all derived from recycled plastic bottles so you and your dog will good about getting it.”
The stuffed pumpkin costs $12 from Wrapables.
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09.14.08
Posted in Dog beds & crates at 9:25 pm by Pet Luxury
If you’ve got an older dog who gets chilled easily, or the weather is just turning cold and Fido doesn’t like it, then perhaps you need to check into heated dog beds.
For example, the TheraBed heated pet bed provides “natural pain relief for aging and arthritic animals and soothing comfort for younger dogs.” It features comfortable looking orthopedic foam, a machine-washable micro-suede cover, and built-in bolsters to surround your dog and keep him warm.
The Flat Screen Heater keeps the bed evenly warmed at 102 degrees and plugs into any electrical outlet. There’s a pet-safe low-voltage system with electronic safety and temperature controls to prevent overheating (sounds better than the old electric blanket my mom used to have… that thing would scorch your toes if you hit it in the wrong spot).
The TheraBed is available in several sizes with prices starting at $80 for small dogs:
TheraBed Heated Pet Beds
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