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March 21, 2008
Puppy Love
Anyone who knows me can be certain of one thing—I love my dog, Jack. L-O-V-E him. So of course when he arrived, I sought out only the best and most stylish products for my young pup. After all, it’s in my house and I have to look at it, too. Here is what I found and what Jack has tested and come to love.
First and foremost, I had to take care of the housing situation. Like many pet owners today, I chose to crate train my dog. For those of you who don’t know what that means, it’s like putting your kid down in a crib, except crates have a door that shuts them in until you decide they can come out and play. But the contraptions that most people use resemble a jail more than a comfy place to hang your hat—I couldn’t possibly put my dog in a cage! Luckily, I found what we have now used for the last two years. It’s a crate that actually looks like a house, with a sturdy metal frame and hinged door. It’s a great blend of form and function that looks just right in my living room. Plus, it’s easy to clean and leaves me guilt free when he’s in it. Best of all, there is extra storage in the “roof” for toys and treats, which will become especially important when my daughter starts putting everything in her mouth! For a crate similar to mine, go to improvementscatalog.com. They offer three different sizes and are reasonably priced.
Jack hangs out in his house. |
Next up, a pup needs a cozy place to nap and a couple sturdy dishes for food and water. I headed over to my local pet shop, Trixie & Peanut, and happily picked up the Twiggy pet bed and the Zen bowl and mat set. The branch-patterned cover is a lovely shade of sage green with brown and white accents, and is machine washable. Once Jack realized it was a place to rest and not an oversized chew toy, he fell in love with it. And I love that it’s always fur-free and doesn’t smell like a dog. Helpful hint: a lint brush is a quick fix when your pet’s bed (or the couch!) doesn’t need washing, but is littered with a few stray hairs.
Twiggy pet bed |
As for the feeding situation, I wanted something that could be left out, wouldn’t break and didn’t scream boring. The Zen bowl and mat set were the perfect combo of all three traits. The bowls are weighted to prevent spills, and the mat can be scoured with hot water in the event your four-legged friend gets a little overzealous at dinner time. And they look like something I would choose to serve my guests in! For those of you outside of Manhattan, browse trixieandpeanut.com for these and other equally chic options.
Zen bowls and mat set |
Last, but probably most important for the salvation of your furniture, are the treats and toys you provide your little one, especially when you're not around. Although he has claimed more than his share of Jimmy Choos, he has never chewed on a piece of furniture, and I owe that to a line of durable, rubber toys from Busy Buddy. Their signature purple toys come in a variety of shapes (we own them all!) and can be stuffed with your canines favorite snack. Jack loves peanut butter, any kind of cheese and when I’m feeling particularly ambitious, I grill up some plain chicken for him. I give him one before I head out for a hot date or an afternoon of shopping on Fifth Ave., and—voila!—a happy pup and intact furnishings. (A big thanks to Glenn for turning me on to these. What a lifesaver!).
Jack playing with his toy. |
He also loves Buddy Biscuits and the homemade (and healthy) treats from our favorite shop on the west coast, Wiskers. It really is a bicoastal world that I live in. Even Jack has headed west several times! And whenever I go home to visit, I head straight to Second Street in Belmont Shore and stock up. Best of all, you can order them online at wiskers.com.
Wiskers store |
Yummy Wiskers treats |
Now that you got your best friend all set up, bask in love and kisses that you’re sure to receive for all your efforts. Woof!
Posted by Aimée at 12:35 p.m.
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