| Top pet gifts, toys
and treats |
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Comfort follows
dogs inside as well. Beds of all shapes, colors
and sizes come practical and extravagant, so choose
appropriately for your pet:
Round pet pillows for all-sized dogs
range from $75 to $150 at Tails
in the City. Mildew-resistant indoor/outdoor
pet beds retail for $50 to $90 at Solutions
Catalog. One Sniffany & Co. bed from Lucky
Dog will cost you $129.
Custom bedding also sells well, says
Haas. If customers have a preference for specific
fabrics in their homes, they just bring it in and
have the bed covering made out of the same material.
His store's custom price: $200 and up.
Toting
Toto
Trendy totes and carriers abound for transporting
toy dogs. Before you fetch one, however, know that
not all pet totes are created equal.
Bob Vetere, president of the American
Pet Products Manufacturers Association, says that
not all doggie totes are made as well as Paris Hilton's
$1,500 designer bag, and some could actually fall
apart while your dog sits in it. Check for a harness
and clip, or something that prevents the dog from
jumping or falling out. As with all new pet toys
and accessories, consider the quality of the product
and the comfort level of the animal.
"Not every dog likes being carried
around like a briefcase," he says.
Also think about Toto's size.
Jan Rasmusen, co-author (with her
dog, Chiclet T. Dog) of "Scared
Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care"
says the bag should be "large enough to allow
wiggle room, with a soft washable cushion for the
bottom. Also, they're better if 'dog' shaped, rather
than flat and narrow at the top."
Carriers range from $62 to $75 at Vavadog
and sell for $85 to $200 at Tails
in the City.
For elderly dogs who have trouble
walking, pet strollers provide a solution. Strollers
cost anywhere from $100 to $350 at Wigglyville
and $145 for little dogs at Shure
Pets.
Manic
about organic
Some humans dine on organic food -- and now, so
do their cats and dogs. Organic and human-quality
raw treats contribute to better health when compared
to highly processed and highly preserved products,
says Rasmusen. For your canine's or feline's sake
however, transition to an all-natural diet slowly,
and learn the dos and don'ts of raw feeding before
you hit the stores. For top quality, select foods
that were processed in Department of Agriculture-checked
plants.
"Most dogs love liver treats,"
she says, "but always select treats made of
high-quality liver." Try liver biscotti at
liverbiscotti.com
or check out other healthy treats at Merrick
Pet Foods and Onlynaturalpet.com.
Bone up on your pet food knowledge
at Rasmusen's index
of suggested sites.
When
Lassie gets lost
Now you see her, now you don't. Only now, you can
find her.
With a pet tracking device such as
Global
Pet Finder, roaming Rovers can't get very far:
A GPS tracking device that affixes to his collar
transmits the canine's exact position on a map every
minute that he's outside of a preprogrammed safe
space. Cost of a pet tracker: $290.
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