Kenny's Closet

These aren’t your ordinary poop bags, dog beds and placemats… these are must-haves!

gshumate — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:14:48 +0000

Always looking to share with you all the best of what the world has to offer for your furry family member, I’ve come across three items that are sure to be top considerations.

Olive Poop Bags

Recycling your plastics, cardboard and cans is a great way to help protect the environment, but when our dogs go outside and we pick up after them, those supermarket or traditional poo plastic bags are more than likely being dumped in a landfill to serve out their last days/years. Enter Olive Poop Bags. Made naturally from GM-free corn starch and vegetable oil, bags are certified 100% biodegradable and compost in as little as 40 days. Poop and parcel can be buried for micro-organisms to consume or combined with communities that compost biodegradable waste. What a fantastic idea and another save the earth effort. Pricing starts at $12.99 for 50 bags.

Tuck Me In Dog Bed

Continuing on the eco-friendly train, next stop are these adorable dog beds by P.L.A.Y. making sure our pet child gets a good night sleep is important, but in style? The Tuck Me In line of beds are super cute, fashionable and come in two sizes and colors. P.L.A.Y give you the option of buying just the bed or purchasing the entire set of bed and cover. Pricing starts at $95.

Rodeo Dog Place Mat

Tired of the plastic covered, rubber lined dog placemat offerings? While they are cute, some are just too whimsical for my taste. Check out the Rodeo Pet Mat certain to compliment anyone’s kitchen or dog area. Place pooches’ food and water bowl on this easy to clean woven vinyl mat and bon appetit! Pricing for mats start at $35.

Affordable, Useful and APPropriate for Dogs! Desirable Dog Applications for Apple Users.

gshumate — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:14:58 +0000

While I am still one of those dinosaurs that prefers to write things down on paper, I do find myself creating electronic notes on my iTouch and more often than not, making notes about important appointments and events in my “memos.” Double work? Absolutely, but I’ve come across a few Apple applications that have me saving more trees and putting my fingers to use. Take a look below and see if any of these can be of use to you.

Pet First Aid

PET FIRST AID
Looking for a great app that offers essential pet care in the case of a medical emergency? Pet First Aid presents owners with information on how to treat slight ailments with in-depth articles on topics like cuts, choking and poisoning as well as invaluable videos and more! Want to have all of your precious pup’s medical information in one place? Use the Pet Info section to include your dog’s vaccination record, medication and allergy history.
Pricing for app is $3.99

PAW CARD: THE ULTIMATE PET TRACKER FOR YOUR DOG
Paw Card, similar to Pet First Aid helps you keep track of your canine companion’s veterinary contacts, vaccinations, medical history and identification tags. A timeline feature graphs your dog’s weight as well as the option to write notes or journal entries.
Pricing for this app is FREE

Dog Park Finder App

DOG PARK FINDER
Be more strategic when looking for play-dates for your pooch. The Dog Park Finder app gives you more time to play and eases your research in locating dog-friendly parks and training locations in your area (USA locations only). The app also includes information on visiting over 2,000 off-leash areas and 5,000+ reviews so you can have fun with your furry friend off the leash.
Pricing for this app is FREE

DOG TRICKS & BARK MACHINE
Dog Tricks & Bark Machine recommends to dog owners helpful tips and tricks for training Fido. Step by step images and instructions supplied from published dog training books, this FREE app also contains a “Bark Machine,” where various sounds are available for your audible choosing.

DogBook
For those that weren’t aware, your pup can have his/her own community online like facebook users. DogBook is a social networking application for dogs and users can keep humans updated with what’s going on in your their life. Doggies can friend fellow dogs (and even cats, horses, fish and ferrets), post their fave photos and find great animal-friendly places to meet up.
Pricing for this app is FREE

My Dog App

BONUS: Met these folks at the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show and Awards a few weeks ago. The My Dog app is FREE (for now) and provides you with the best of both worlds: your dog’s id, medical and insurance info, as well as a pet travel guide and social life information – all in one place!

Riding in Cars with Dogs

gshumate — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:07:14 +0000

Kenny loves to ride shotgun. If he isn’t able to sit in the passenger seat, then he is standing, on the middle armrest – as if he is steering a ship, but is that safe? Definitely not.

Lookout SUV Seat

One stop too short could send my precious pooch flying through the windshield and that is not an exaggeration, so I’ve been looking into a car harness or a car seat, for him to enjoy his rides in the car safely. Here are my top choices, take a look and be sure to give me your feedback on these brands…

Brookstoneoffers a console seat, perfect for small dogs under 5lbs, that fits between the front driver’s bucket seat and the passenger seat. Ideal for those smaller pups that need to be close to their owner. Pricing starts at $36

For those that have a SUV, they say this will fit nicely between the front (or rear) seat and your canine cutie will love the comfy security of this new hi-back car seat. Pricing for the Microsuede Console SUV High-Back starts at $99.99

Lookout Perch Car Seat

Lookout Perch Car Seat-Full Bench
Finally someone thinking of the larger dog, this lookout perch bench allows your dog his personal space to relax while riding in the car. Machine washable, making this a keeper for road trips and beyond. Pricing starts at $139.99

Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat

A window seat please!
TheKurgobrand makes great car seats, for dogs up to 30lbs. I’ve seen this one in person and it allows your dog the opportunity to see outside, from their own window, safely. Pricing starts at $60

Pre-Westminster Fashion Show was all that and more!

gshumate — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:57:00 +0000

We're at Westminster!

Last Friday, Kenny and I attended our first Pre-Westminster Fashion Show and Awards at the New York Pennsylvania Hotel. Always a fan of a “party with a purpose,” this event also benefited the Sean Casey Animal Rescue in Brooklyn.

For a donation of $25, I was treated to an impressive gift bag, hot buffet, a runway show, a dog wedding and cash bar, not complaining, it was after all a charity event. And although it seemed as if there were several parties going on simultaneously, the scheduled runway show did feature such fabulousness as a $5k Swarovski crystaled dress and the stars of the upcoming tv reality show: Doggie Moms, a six-part series, which kicks off today, Feb. 16th at 9:30 p.m. on NYC Life.

Doggie Moms actors

Dogs, large and small dressed in their Sunday best, were in attendance to celebrate and congratulate those people who have made some significant animal rescue contributions. For me, that was fantastic to see – but of course my focus was on the “fashions” (said like Dwight from RHOA) that were being displayed in the back of the ballroom.

I was impressed with many of the designer lines that were present, albeit many do cater to the smaller and female dog. What about our boys and the full bodied? Still on the hunt for those kinds of items. The beautiful crocheted sweaters by See Spot Knit and custom coats by PoochKiss were simply adorable and even better would not require a trip to the cleaners. Cozy Puff Dog Beds are said to be available in a myriad of colors/sizes and the souvenir equivalent to the “I love NY t-shirt,” Les Pets en Voyage! were also some of my faves.

Attendee of Westminster Pre-Show

Aside from the apparel and accessories, I met loads of folks who have made the awesome choice to adopt a rescue dog. It made my heart smile to see that so many lovable animals with broken spirits were given a second chance.

To round out the evening, Kenny and I ran into Sookie, who looks as if she could be kin, so we had to take a picture with her and her mom, who is a strong supporter of Sean Casey.

All in all, a nice evening out meeting new friends and reconnecting with old contacts.

Coming soon… meet the Crown Heights Dog Whisperer, Dexter. He and his African Mastiff, Zobo, stole the back-room show and Zobo, my heart with his docile demeanor and silent strength. Until next time…

Last Minute Valentine Day Gifts

gshumate — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:32:49 +0000

Time does fly and with less than a week away until Valentine’s Day, I found a few last minute gift ideas that are super cute and most importantly, affordable.

Hearts PJs

A little chilly in the house or you just want your pup to sleep in style? These heart print pajamas are so darn cute, in a lightweight cotton and has an underbelly opening, for easy access. Pricing starts about $18.

Cookies for a Cause? K9 Confections‘ Candy Hearts healthy treats are being offered in a gift set available for Valentine’s Day. In addition to selling treats/bones/biscotti in a variety of yummy flavors all year round, K9 Confections also donates to local shelters nationwide with support by customers’ purchases. Pricing for treats starts at $8.95

Candy Hearts

Next week’s blog topic? A re-cap of my and Kenny’s debut and attendance of the Pre-Westminster Dog Fashion and Awards event on Friday.

As always, support your local Pet Shop! While the larger chains who will have an assorted variety of toys, treats and clothing – it is the small business owner who really needs your cash to be of service to you and the community.

Desirable Dog Items? We are intrigued.

gshumate — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:36:37 +0000

In my travels I’ve seen a lot of unique dog items, some great, others made me go – huh? Since this will be a recurring monthly blog topic, because I simply cannot include them all now, below are just a few that I thought were whimsical, adorable and necessary, lol! Take a look and tell me what you think. And if you have one to share, please do!

What's Your Woof Sign?

So this year we were told that our zodiac sign may not actually be our zodiac sign anymore. Luckily for our precious pooches – they do not have that issue, making DogOscopes, pet id tags featuring each of the 12 zodiac signs in an artsy-dog style, a cute addition to your canine’s collar. Now we don’t want our doggies to look like our key chains with multiple charms hanging around their necks, but DogOscopes are too cute and with signs like Caninecer and Tauruffus, just simply irresistible. Pricing for DogOscopes start at $15 and allows for two lines of engraving.

Buying someone a present for their new puppy or maybe a gift for your own canine kid is half the battle, but finding appropriate gift wrapping paper is another story. I came across this wonderful site petpartyprintz.com and what a fabulous selection they have! Looking for holiday and birthday paper, the obvious – to general gift wrap – the styles and designs of the paper are gorgeous and comes with its own tape, to ensure easy unwrapping. Gift wrap paper pricing starts at $4.95

Everyday Stripes with Paws

Sleeping in Style

Hosting a slumber party or just a multi-mutt owner? Check out this sexy and contemporary bunk bed by Lazybonezz. Info from the site says that the Metropolitan bed is great for the city life, but also very functional and fun for any home. If you’re wondering about who will sleep on the top bunk and how they will get there? A set of three stairs, with a textured surface on each, makes this a source of entertainment as well as one of the most unique and beautiful products on the pet market. Pricing for the Metropolitan bed starts at $399.

From knowing your dog’s zodiac sign, to making sure his/her present is wrapped appropriately to finding the perfect piece of bed furniture, there are products out here that cater to the four-legged loves of our lives. Until next time…

Protecting Pups’ Paws is a Priority

gshumate — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:38:16 +0000

Zack & Zoey Rainboots

With 2011 coming in with a snowy vengeance, we must be mindful that our dogs need to go out regardless and we can protect their paws from the salt that is thrown to prevent icing. Below are my and Kenny’s top picks that not only look great, but can keep your pups paws safe outside. Just a quick note – it may take your dog a few outings before they are completely used to wearing any sort of footwear, so try putting them on in the house a few times, before going outside.

Dog boots by Zack and Zoey are my faves as they are insulated and have velcro wrapping so that you can adjust accordingly around the leg. Be sure to measure your dog’s paw “across” the pad, if you aren’t able to have them with you; as most footwear (along with most clothing) is non-refundable. Pricing starts around $25 and they come in great color combinations that can easily match your dog’s existing wardrobe. Kenny has them in camouflage green.

Pawz (rubber)

If you want to be more versatile and/or start your dog off in something a little less expensive, try the rubber Pawz, disposable boots. Pawz pricing is in the $15-$20 range, and comes in a pack of 12.

Soxy Paws keep your Pups' feet warm and salt free!

Paired with socks, by Soxy Paws, for warmth, this cute ensemble works and after walking in rain, snow and slush – Kenny’s feet are bone dry when we come back in from a walk. Pricing for Soxy Paws starts at $13 and they too come in amazing color combos.

If you’re in the NYC tri-state area, all of these items can be found at The New York Dog Shop on the Upper West-Side in Manhattan.

What would Kenny want for Christmas? Holiday Gift Idea #4

gshumate — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:01:51 +0000

As a young child, each school year I would be sequestered to the school gym or auditorium to take my annual school pictures. I understand that it was my parents’ way of documenting those treasured school years and my personal growth, but
buying those ridiculous packages of okay images and then passing them out to family and friends? Even worse? Seeing one of those hands-in-lap 5x7s in our living room? So not cool.

PoochShoot - White Husky

Do we do the same for our doggies? Are we the paparazzi for our pooches? It’s pretty safe to say that we may be a tad bit amateur in our efforts, or just don’t have the time or know how, to get that perfect picture, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a professional shot done? To have a gorgeous and artistic memory that truly embodies the personality of our dog? Enter Lindsey Henon, owner of PoochShoot.

PoochShoot - Tanaka Roar!

Specializing in studio and on location pet photography, Henon’s approach is modern and sophisticated, which is why this is on Kenny’s holiday list. The ultimate gift for any art lover, in studio pricing starts at $125 for 1-2 hours. If your dog is anything like Kenny, curious and overly social (read: not completely trained) Lindsey says no problem. She is comfortable working with all sizes and types of dogs. Finally, with a portion of all proceeds going to various animal charitable organizations in the PA/NJ area, Henon’s gift of giving extends past the holiday season. For more information on appointments and pricing, please visit www.poochshoot.com and be sure to view the gallery, just lovely.

What would Kenny want for Christmas? Holiday Gift Idea #3

gshumate — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:24:39 +0000

Top Tips from Top Trainers

Not exactly your fancy-schmancy type of gift, but this guide is genius! The Association of Pet Dog Trainers Top Tips from Top Trainers: 1001 Practical Tips and Techniques for Successful Dog Care and Training, with its practical style, A-Z format and comprehensive coverage is a great tool for the development of a strong or better relationship with your dog… and just after a few pages, Top Tips had me saying “a-ha!,” a lot.

If you’re curious as to why your dog may do certain things, in the case of Kenny – who loves to paw at me at night when he wants to be rubbed, Top Tips taught me how to train him on unwanted behavior. Want to know what the experts say about crating and dominance over other canines and possibly you? With over 1000 suggestions, there is something that can be learned by all.

Top Tips’ cover price is $19.95 and can be found at major retail book stores.

What would Kenny want for Christmas? Holiday Gift Idea #2

gshumate — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:33:10 +0000

Celie Leg Warmer

Pet parents… looking for a great stocking stuffer for your little lady? Check out Telicia Bunch’s line of leg warmers for your little girl. Starting at $34.99, this 100% cashmere accessory is trending this season and are such the fashion statement. Telicia’s fascination with style started at a young age. She says “Dolls and a house full of dogs were her constant companions and it was her love of dogs and love for fashion that helped her decide to enter the growing industry of dog fashion and to launch her eponymous collection, Te-leash-a by Telicia.”

Toten Open Carrier

Telicia’s expertise in creating these gorgeous pieces for dogs comes from her strong background in design. What I especially loved about her line was the butter soft leather carrying bags. The Toten is the ultimate purse style carrier and is completely open and allows your pet to see and be seen. It has two large pockets on the outsides and two small pockets on the sides, all with snap closure, as well as a zipper pocket on the interior. The hot pink interior lining provides that fashionable pop of color and of course there is an interior safety strap with harness hook. For those that want a more enclosed style, the Travelin Thru carrier has four large pockets with zip closure on the outside, two smaller pockets on the side, and a zipper pocket on the interior. There is plenty of ventilation on all four sides that provide a comfortable ride for your pet. For more info on these items and more, click HERE.

Remember November 27th is the first-ever Small Business Saturday – a day to come together and champion for the small businesses we love. These are the businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local economies. Shop and show your support tomorrow!