New Holiday Collars at the Pawhaus

New Pawhaus Brand dog and cat collars are now available at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique!  Check out what is new and hot for Halloween!

Buy Yours Today!

Dude, who doesn't like cake?

We receive a brand spanking new shipment of Fifi's Favorite Carob and Buddy's Best Banana Puppy Cake Mixes today. MeiMei and Miko are huge fans of anything frosted. Okay, so they're huge fans of anything that could vaguely pass for a treat, but they love cake. Like spin-around-on-the-spot-shooting-drool-at-the-walls l-o-v-e.

The cake mixes have a nice spongy texture and a yummy taste. Sure by our human taste tests, it was kind of bland, but unlike cakes for people, Puppy Cakes are healthy and safe for your dogs. Made with whole wheat flour and honey to provide a nutritional snack. Top it with the yogurt frosting mix and you will be enhancing your dogs immune and digestive system.

New Wooflink in Stock

Cool clothes are not only for people anymore!

Have you ever thought that you are wearing the coolest clothes, but your little buddies are still wearing boring pet clothes? Shouldn’t we dress them better to make them look as good as you are, but still comfortable?

With this in mind, Wooflink brought various fashionable clothes.

We are very proud that we carry the hottest trends with reasonable price. We give all our products the highest standards available. Our lifetime goal is to provide clients the best quality and the hottest trends in very wide ranges. Under Wooflink brand, we are trying to expand our range, not only dog clothing.

Find your pooch a great new outfit today! Start Shopping

Are CocoTherapy® Coconut Chips Different from Dehydrated Coconut Chips found in Health Food Stores?

Are CocoTherapy® Coconut Chips Different from Dehydrated Coconut Chips found in Health Food Stores?

From the Facebook Page of CocoTherapy®:

We often receive questions on the differences between organic coconut flakes you can buy at health food stores and CocoTherapy® Coconut Chips. While many of the benefits may be similar, CocoTherapy Coconut Chips are made specifically for maximum digestibility, while the traditional dehydrated coconut chips are not. What you see here may surprise you.Dehydrated coconut meat is rich in nutrients and fiber; however it can be difficult to digest for most animals. We produce our CocoTherapy Coconut Chips in a special way to be highly digestible and easily assimilated in the body, while providing all the beneficial nutrients from medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Unlike other dehydrated coconut chips or flakes available in your grocery aisles or even health food stores, CocoTherapy coconut chips break down easily and quickly with just water.

Proof is in the Chips

The digestive system of some animals can not tolerate the typical raw dehydrated coconut chips found in grocery stores. Feeding your pets typical dehydrated coconut chips may stress their digestive system and often times the undigested coconut chips are passed either in the animal’s stool or vomit. However, our CocoTherapy Coconut Chips were uniquely developed to be easily digestible for animals. To see how quickly CocoTherapy coconut chips break down, we took a leading dehydrated organic coconut chips brand (purchased from a popular health food store) and CocoTherapy Coconut Chips and placed them in a saucer of water.Here, you can see typical dehydrated organic coconut chips (left) and CocoTherapy Coconut Chips (right), placed in a saucer full of water:
In just a 30 seconds, the CocoTherapy Coconut Chips (right) already began to break down:

In just under a minute, the CocoTherapy Coconut Chips (right) has broken down in the water; while the other organic coconut chips (left) has no changes at all: In just three minutes, the CocoTherapy Coconut Chips (right) have completely absorbed the water and has a smooth, soft texture. The other organic coconut chips (left) have not broken down and still has water in the saucer:
CocoTherapy Coconut Chips are perfect for providing highly digestible fiber for animals with digestive disorders, IBD, colitis, while providing all the nutritional benefits of coconut oil. It is easily digested by dogs, cats, birds, and other small mammals.

Canine Noise Anxiety

It Might Not Be “Just A Noise” to your dog!

With thunderstorm season upon us and the 4th of July right around the corner, it is a good time to consider the effects loud noises can have on dogs. Noise Anxiety is a very real and very common problem for dogs across the country. The estimates vary widely, but somewhere between 5 million and 15 million dogs suffer from noise anxiety severe enough for their owners to seek help. That’s a lot of anxiety!

Symptoms

Noise anxiety can exhibit many symptoms and severity levels. On the less extreme end of the spectrum, a fear of thunder may just cause some shaking and clinging to her owner. On the other extreme, thunder may cause panicked running, destructive chewing, defecating indoors, or even jumping through a plate glass window! Here are a few symptoms of canine noise anxiety:

Symptoms of Canine Noise Anxiety
Panting	Drooling	Indoor Elimination
Whining / Barking	Hiding	Seeking Tight Spaces
Destructive Chewing	Clinging to People	Shaking / Trembling
Scratching	Not Eating	Pacing / Panicked Running

Causes

Determining what caused your dog’s noise anxiety may be difficult to pinpoint, if not impossible. If you’re lucky, you may be able to trace the start of your dog’s anxiety to a traumatic incident such as being too close to a fireworks show or too close to a lightning strike and its subsequent thunder clap. But more than likely, it won’t be anything that obvious. Your dog may have a genetic predisposition for noise anxiety. Studies have shown that some breeds have a higher incidence of noise anxiety such as Collies, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. For some dogs, noise anxiety gradually appears and worsens as they age for no apparent reason. For other dogs, it appears as a puppy and stays with them.

But one thing that most experts agree on… when it comes to noise anxiety, you never want to pet, coddle, or otherwise console the dog when she’s exhibiting symptoms. Your dog will most likely interpret your behavior as “You see! I do have something to be worried about!” It’s important for the people around the dog to behave normally during events that trigger the dog’s anxiety. In fact, a possible cause for noise anxiety in the first place is her owner’s nervousness or fear of some kind of noise. Most dogs are very sensitive to their owners’ moods. If her owner has a fear of thunder, she may give her owner the benefit of the doubt!

What your dog is actually experiencing with noise anxiety could also be numerous things. For some, it may be just the noise that bothers her…a dog’s hearing is far more sensitive than a person’s and some loud noises may even cause physical discomfort. But for others, it may not even be the actual noise that frightens the dog. Dogs have highly developed senses of smell…they may smell a thunderstorm long before they hear any thunder. Dogs are more sensitive to barometric pressure changes than people…wide swings in pressure may even cause pain in some dogs. Dogs also may react to the buildup of static electricity in their fur when Thunderstorms approach.

Treatments

Different treatments work for different dogs, and there is no guarantee that any one alternative is best for your dog. Besides the effectiveness at reducing symptoms, there are other issues to consider when evaluating which treatment may be best for your dog. Some treatments can be very time consuming for the owner (for example, desensitizing). Some treatments can become very expensive and pose risks of side effects (for example, ongoing medications). Here are some treatment options to consider. It’s not unusual for a combination of treatments to ultimately be the most effective for a particular dog.

1. Change the Dog’s Environment. Try creating a safe haven for your dog (such as a blanket-covered crate) or finding a location that will reduce the noise level. Try turning on music or the television to help mask the sound of the problem noise. If you know an event is coming (e.g. thunderstorm or fireworks), try giving your dog a lot of exercise beforehand. Environment changes typically do not show dramatic results, but they can help to reduce symptoms.
   
2. Pressure Wraps. This is a surprisingly simple and effective treatment for many dogs. A “pressure wrap” is anything that wraps around the dog’s torso and chest to provide a constant, gentle pressure. Why does it work? No one knows for sure but it’s likely a combination of making the dog feel comforted and secure plus distracting the dog from concentrating on whatever it fears. This treatment has been around for years and has been proven very effective for many dogs. A product like Thundershirt works very well. Pressure wraps often show good results with the first usage, however some dogs require 2, 3 or more usages before you see reduced or eliminated symptoms. A pressure wrap is inexpensive, the least time consuming, and has no risk of negative side effects.
3. Behavior Modification. Desensitization is one of the most common behavior modification tried for noise anxiety. In a nutshell, in a controlled environment, you begin by exposing your dog to a low level of the noise that bothers her. As she gets accustomed to it, you increase the levels louder and louder over time until she learns to tolerate the real deal. It’s good in theory but has limitations in practice. It’s very time consuming…if it works at all for your dog, you will likely have to give periodic treatments weekly for the rest of the dog’s life. And many dogs are too smart to react to the “staged” noise; they can tell the difference between a CD playing a thunderstorm and the real thing.
4. Medications. This is a very involved, complex area of treatment. There are a variety of prescription medications that your veterinarian may suggest. Some are administered on a regular basis for the life of the dog (Paroxetine or Fluoxetine). Some are given only at the time of an anxiety event (valium). Sometimes a combination of drugs are used…a doggy noise cocktail. Any of these options tend to be relatively expensive. The vet visits alone can run hundreds of dollars over a dog’s life. And you still need to pay for the drugs! Plus all drugs pose the risk of unwanted physical side effects, sometimes severe. Make sure you ask your vet about any potential risks with the drug(s) you’re considering.

In conclusion, you don’t have to let your dog just suffer through noise anxiety. There are treatments to try and some do not require a big commitment by you, either time or money. At a minimum, you should try mixing up the environment and using a pressure wrap. In combination, that may be all you need for your little “puppy” to weather the storms symptom free!

Courtesy of Thundershirt; makers of the patent-pending, well-designed, pressure wrap for canine anxiety.
service@thundershirt.com

SleepyPod

Check out how the SleepyPod would work for your cat and/or dog:

Beds you want to get noticed

Introducing Scamper and Snooze at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique:

By designing products with a focus on comfort and durability married with visual appeal, Scamper and Snooze is able to provide unique dog bed solutions to satisfy the design oriented and their companions. Scamper and Snooze’s luxury dog beds are designed to complement and accent your home's decor.

Scamper and Snooze dog beds are scaled especially for the small dog. They feature cuddly, warm, soft at hand material that is extremely durable on top of plush foam filling to provide the ultimate level of style and sumptuous comfort. The vibrancy and sparkle of the fabric and the ability to mix and match from the 12 colour options provides a colour palette to suit any décor.

Scamper and Snooze dog beds are upholstered in Crypton® fabric. Crypton® is a popular fabric specified by professional interior designers in high traffic public areas for its durability and moisture resistance. The fabric is breathable while being stain, water, bacteria and odour resistant. Crypton® material has been tested and found safe for pets; it is wipeable, washable and easy to clean. In case of major dirt and grime, all upholstered covers are Velcro® removable for easy cleaning.

Scamper and Snooze dog beds are designed and manufactured in North America.

Pawz Dog Boots

Now available at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique - Pawz Dog Boots!

PAWZ is the worlds only disposable and reusable, waterproof dog boot. Made of natural rubber, PAWZ are 100% biodegradable. PAWZ are designed to go on easily and fit securely without zippers or straps. Fashionable yet durable, PAWZ offers serious paw protection. PAWZ is the most natural-feeling boot your dog can wear because without padding your dog can feel the ground, providing a needed sense of security. Like a sock, PAWZ moves with your dog allowing full paw motion and maximum comfort. And imagine never losing another expensive boot again. PAWZ come 12 in a package and each boot may be worn many times.

Check out this video on how Pawz would work for your dog:

Ready, Set, Go! ReadyLeash!

As I mentioned last week - I like to try out as many as the products that we carry in Pawhaus as I can with the our pugs. That way I know what I am talking about when I recommend it to a customer.

So one of the items we recently brought in is the ReadyLeash:The ReadyLeash is an innovative, non-retractable leash with bags built-in! The ReadyLeash features an comfort-grip handle with an integrated clean-up bag dispenser. The bags simply pull out like tissues and refillables easily pop into the handle. XtraLeashes can be attached to the ReadyLeash handle for walking multiple dogs.

So, I attached an XtraLeash to our handle and hooked the girls up.
The more I used the ReadyLeash, the more I realized how comfortable the handle was to hold. At first I thought the leash length (I have medium size on there for each of them) wasn't enough - I thought that we would be tripping all over each other and giving each dog enough "space" to comfortably do their "business" wasn't going to be easy - but it didn't end up being that way.

The girls easily got used to how much space they had for themselves and, unlike other couplers I have tried while walking the dogs, the ReadyLeash gives more space for the dogs to be apart from each other. They could both walk on either side of me without it feeling like they were pulling each other or pulling me from one side or the other.
Of course, the girls have to frequently check the Pee-mail around the neighborhood, which means that I have to be on the ball for when they want to stop so that I don't pull my arm out - but I did like the closer control that I had with them when it came to them trying to grab a rabbit turd off the ground.
I can't really comment on whether the ReadyLeash helps with a dog pulling - only because MeiMei and Miko are very good while walking and 90% of the time stay in heel and don't pull ahead or get too out of control. (Yes, I am spoiled with well behaved pugs ;)
However, I can comment on the easy convienence of having the poop bags in the handle. Very easy to pull out and biodegradable bags at that! The handle also has a very cool feature in that there is an opening on both ends. One to pull bags out of, and the other (self proclaimed) I could tuck the tied ends of the *ahem* used bag into the opening. Which means that I NO LONGER HAVE TO CARRY POOP FILLED BAGS IN MY HANDS!!!! If you are like us and don't have garbage bins in abundance in your 'hood then this is a very cool feature. This is also handy when you have two dogs to wrangle and don't always have an extra hand to pick up the additional doo that they drop. (Side Note: what is it about dogs and their reserve tank of pee and poop when they do on walks?? It's endless!!!)
So after about a week of using the ReadyLeash I can really say that I think it's a really useful product and will continue to use it when walking the girls. The only comment I have that isn't practical when using it for two dogs is when you are taking them somewhere, like the groomers or vet's office, and they need to be taken into the back, one at a time, on leash. It leaves you holding one dog while the other goes or coming up with another plan (maybe just clipping the leash to your person or something might work).

I think that the ReadyLeash is a great product and I will use it for a long time to come. If you are wondering why I favor a non-retractable leash.. well that's a topic I may have to save for another day.

Bessie + Barnie

Bessie & Barnie was founded by a group of forward-thinking fashion executives united in the common goal of creating a better living environment for all pets. They strive, at Bessie & Barnie, to design a collection of well-made products that are fun, functional and fashionable, all handcrafted in the United States.Their design inspiration derives from the latest trends in fashion and interiors, along with the constant leadership of our design gurus, Bessie and Barnie, the happiest, most loving dogs in the world. Working together, their team strives to ensure that "dogs have never been happier".

As we like to try out the products that we carry on the site - along with our shop order we also included a copy of harness for our two pugs, MeiMei and Mikodon't they look cute!!! The harnesses were very easy to put on them - even though MeiMei tends to be a squirmer when it comes to putting on a harness or collar. You just slip their head through the neck area and adjust the webbing that comes under their armpit (do dogs have an armpit?) to make a comfortable fit
Because of the soft, wide fabric that comes across their chest - it's important, especially for wide, barrel chested dogs, that the fit is comfortable for them and won't dig into them or that they could wiggle out of it.

Bessie + Barnie also comes in multiple, stylish trims and fabrics! So something so simple looks so great - and they are priced great too!

They also make beds! Delivered right to your door you can chose the best patterns and styles that flatter your dogs space - something that you will want to show off, not hide! All their products are made in the USA

so check out what products you can order from the Pawhaus Pet Boutique today!

Diva Dog Collection

Diva Dog is an amazing and stylish brand of pet products that we are proud to have at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique!

Their collars, harnesses and leashes are always ahead in style and quality. Their neck accessories for pets have always included a heavy, stainless steel buckle - which is strong and classy - but they have turned it up a notch and are now lighter weight! They have taken the beauty of polished metal and paired it with a light weight composite side release mechanism which reduces the weight of our buckle by over 50%. The side release is sturdy and easy to use. It doesn't have any components that can stick or stop working over time.

There are also hard-core styles for the rockers out there, like the Spike Collection
and you can resist their new ADORABLE Ladybugs and Bees collection - summer may almost be over but you will be able to smell the fresh cut grass and blooming flowers all year round with this piece for your poochand if you are looking for the truly unique item that will turn some heads - check out the Boho Pet Carriers - vibrant, hand-painted paisley designs embellish these all-leather pet carriers
So start browsing around for Diva Dog products at the Pawhaus today!

Urban Adventures

New at the Pawhaus - The Urban Adventure™ Backpack provides an excellent way to travel around town or on the trail! This easy-on/easy-off design is loaded with custom features to meet you and your pet’s needs. Available in stock two stylish new color combinations.
Order one for your adventure hound today!

Bottle Buddies

We got our first order of Bottle Buddies last week and think that it's a really great toy for larger breed dogs.

Here is a video from the manufacturers of the product to give you a better idea of what they are about


Order your Bottle Buddy from the Pawhaus Pet Boutique today!

Working Hard

I haven't posted in this blog with my own two dogs or really personal opinions on here... but I think it may be time to get started :)

The girls have been helping me get some things done these past weeks - and I gotta say, they really throw themselves in their work! They can't seem to let it go at the end of the day

MeiMei: come on Miko - we have to look over all of these collars to make sure that momma didn't mess them upMiko: If I look at another collar... I'm gunna lose it!Miko: This one does suit me though, doesn't it?MeiMei: I'm just going to rest here for a moment...MeiMei: zzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
Check out our new collars getting added to the site over the next couple weeks - and always expanding! The girls are helping me pick out the best styles to add to our collection! We will have a collar give-away this week too!! Details to come...

Great Ideas to keep your dog cool

Find most of these products and more at the Pawhaus Pet Boutique!

Summer survival tips for a happier, heathier pup and environment!

via Raise a Green Dog! by Johann The Dog on 6/9/09

Summer is finally here, and dog am I happy! I love summer, all the fresh air, fun times outside in nature, swimming, hiking, agility, picnics, and lots more.

But there are lots of dangers out there for us pups during the dog days of summer. So we wanted to put together our top 10 green dog living survival tips, to help you have the healthiest, safest and most environmentally responsible summer ever!

Here we go....

Tip #1

Us dogs we spend a lot of time in our yards, it's an extension of our home! So be sure and keep those lawns super safe and free of harmful chemicals. Those pesticides, insecticides and herbicides are super dangerous for us dogs (and humans too). So go organic and feel free to safely enjoy your lawn and help the environment too!

Tip #2

Heat can be a killer. So take lots of precautions when having fun with activities outside. Make sure there's plenty of filtered fresh clean water available at all times. Wear some pup boots if you're pounding the pavement, it can be super hot on sensitive paw pads. Keep your pup cool with an eco-friendly cool coat and lots of shade. Cool down your pup with cool water on the paw pads and on their tummy. Not too cold though, it can be too much of a shock. And very importantly, learn the signs of heat stroke and the location of the nearest emergency vet hospital, just in case.

Tip #3

Summer is traveling time! So be sure and practice all the important safety measures when traveling, like buckling up your pup in the car, taking lots of extra filtered water from home and transporting that water in a leach proof container. And stock up on healthy organic foods for your trips. Take along those biodegradable bags to pick up the doo and help the environment. Add a first aid kit and emergency contact info to your car or vehicle. And make sure your pup is wearing their tags at all times.

Also, help us share with other folks about the dangers of leaving pups in cars, because they can heat up like ovens and become killers!

Tip #4

Contrary to pupular belief, not all dogs know how to swim coming out of the womb. We need to learn how to become confident and be safe in the water. So teach your dog to swim for safety's sake. And check out an float coat (that's what we use when we go canoing!)

Tip #5

Get your exercise in the early morning or later in the evening when it's cooler. Taking those long walks or hikes, and other activities during the cooler parts of the day will be much more fun.

Tip #6

Watch out for dangers when you're out and about. You know those puddles, retention ponds, river and streams could very well be laced with lots of lawn and farming chemicals, so try to find safer alternative places to swim, like a fun kiddie pool in the backyard, or a nice chemical free swimming pool, supervised of course! Gracie and I absolutely love our kiddie pool on a hot day!

Tip #7

Fleas and ticks love the summer weather just as much as we do. So what's a dog to do? Take healthier and safer precautions in preventing and deterring these nasty bugs. The EPA and the Natural Resource Defense Council has provided us with warnings of the dangers of many over the counter flea and tick medications. So get educated, there are safer alternatives.

Tip #8

Summer is a time to celebrate and a time for super cell storms. All that celebrating humans do can be very stressful for us pups. Loud noises, large crowds and fireworks can sometimes be way too much for some pups. And that nasty thunder and lightening can scare a pup half to death! So try and minimize these stressful situations, and look into a pheramone or homeopathic remedy that may help relieve your pup from some of the suffering of summer bangs.

Tip #9

On super hot days (like we have here in August and late July) we plan time to have fun indoors! We have fun learning new tricks. It works our brains and tires us out just as much as a long walk would. So when it's super hot, take the time to learn something new and have fun at the same time.

Then have your Mum, whip up a nice cool Homemade Frosty treat all your hard work!

Tip #10

Get out there and have fun! Enjoy your summer, the healthy way for you and the environment!