Is this product safe? Years ago these treats had some issues and unfortunately a few dogs choked and died. The treat is now new and improved with a soft, chewy texture that is easier to digest. They are now so soft that they are even bendable. The gummy texture helps remove tarter from a senior dogs teeth! Older dogs sometimes stop chewing things like chew bones, and dental cleanings are expensive but become necessary. However, like with any treat or dog chew you have to be a mindful dog owner! You really need to know your dog, ask your vet and think about when you give treats.

Seriously, I mean when you buy a treat for your dog, think about your dog and circumstance. Do you have multiple dogs? Does your dog gulp treats? How old is your dog? You are probably thinking, why should I ask myself all of these questions before giving my dog a treat or a chew!? Well, all of these questions have to do with safety and ultimately safety will save you heartache and vet bills. These treats like other treats and dog chews can be great if you read the packaging and get the proper size of treat for your dog. The main thing is that your dog does not gulp or hoard treats. If that’s the case this type of treat may not be right for  your dog. This treat is now new and improved to be chewy and easy to digest helping to clean teeth and has vitamins galore.

Paws for a Minuteâ„¢ safety tips for treats!

1. If your dog gulps treats, this treat is not the best. Beware of your dogs chewing behaviors. Check with your vet, first.

2. Read the packages and think before you buy a chew bone or treat!

3. If you own multiple dogs don’t give them all a chew bone or chew treat all at the same time. This creates a “shark effect” and frenzy that can cause choking.

*Photo Credit: BringFido.com

I recently read a very cool little piece in Newsweek called The World’s Real Winners. In it, I saw that Belgium was named the “Best Place To Be A Dog Owner“. First of all, what an honor! Second of all, I had no idea Belgium was so dog friendly. Accordingly to the piece, “dogs are truly considered part of the family” in Belgium. They are so appreciative of their four-legged friends that they allow them to accompany them to the grocery store, restaurants, sporting events, music festivals and even on the train. How cool is that? Curious about this, I did a little more research and found a guide to the Top 10 Most Dog Friendly Cities of Blegium from BringFido.com.  It’s an easy place to find out where all the pet friendly hotels, parks, restaurants, etc are so you can plan that long awaited trip abroad for you and your pooch. PS- According to the Embassy, there is no quarantine for pets traveling to Belgium. Which means, if your dog meets the requirements all you need is the proper documentation, a suitcase and your off!

We discovered this trailer of an independent film soon to be released. Check it out! It looks amazingly well done.

Released Date: Opens Sept 1, 2010

Background Info/Cast:

Beautifully animated and featuring the voices of Christopher Plummer, the late Lynn Redgrave, and Isabella Rossellini, My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet retrospective account of author J. R. Ackerley’s 16-year relationship with his adopted German Shepherd, Tulip.

The distinguished British man of letters, Ackerley hardly thought of himself as a dog lover when, well into middle age, he came to adopt Tulip — a beautiful, yet intolerable 18-month-old German shepherd. To his surprise, she turned out to be the love of his life, the “ideal friend” he had been searching for in vain for so many years. In vivid and sometimes startling detail, the film reveals Tulip’s sassy, often erratic behavior (and very canine tastes) and Ackerley’s fumbling but determined efforts to ensure an existence of perfect happiness for her.

A profound and subtle mediation on the strangeness that lies at the heart of all relationships, My Dog Tulip was written, directed and animated by award-winning filmmakers Paul and Sandra Fierlinger and is the first animated feature ever to be entirely hand drawn and painted utilizing paperless computer technology.

Based on the book MY DOG TULIP by J. R. Ackerley. The book is available from New York Book Review at booksellers nationwide.

CAST (Voice)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER
LYNN REDGRAVE
ISABELLA ROSSELLINI
PETER GERETY
BRIAN MURRAY
PAUL HECHT
EUAN MORTON

www.MyDogTulipFilm.com

In the coming weeks Paws For A Minute will be offering some really new cool products in our online shop. This elevated dining dish is a great example of the type of items you will find within. We love the modern design, it will look fantastic in any kitchen.  Check back soon to see the complete 2010 Fall/Winter Collection and find out how to get one of these for yourself!

Has anyone seen this before? Kinda crazy. Is it a new form of art? It’s definitely becoming some kind of International trend. Keep reading!

As of lately, I’ve come across more and more dogs that are dyed to look like other animals. I think it all started by a Japanese gentleman named Kensuke Hirakawa who adopted a Maltese-Poodle mix named Colombo. Colombo was in bad shape when he found him with a very matted coat and dark tear marks around his eyes. Being a beautician and pet store owner, Hirakawa decided to update his new friends look by dyeing his fur and grooming him to look like a panda. And, just like that, a trend was born.

Here are a few pics from a recent publicity event in China. They dyed these dogs to look like other more “wild” animals to help promote the opening of a new pet friendly park.

This is especially popular in Asia, but is becoming more and more prevalent in Europe and the States as well. Here in the US, there is pretty crazy grooming competition held in Pasedena, CA every year known as Barkleigh’s Creative Styling Contest. Below is a video featured on Animal Planet from the 2009 contest and further down you will see some pics that REALLY showcase the talents of these creative groomers.

Cruel or fun? They say that they all use pet safe dye products and all the dogs are cooperative while grooming but, there is a huge debate taking place on whether this is humane or not. What are your thoughts?

Listen to Inger’s Paws For A Minute Quick Tip to learn more…

This video is hilarious! Cats are they really smarter than dogs? When I first saw it I laughed hysterically. This cool cat gives a whole new definition to hang’in hound!

Got to love the strategy of getting the birds eye view of the situation. Check it out..

Part of my Paws For A Minute Team recently drove up to San Francisco from Los Angeles and brought their Puggle, Blu, with them to share in the fun. Check out their full report on what to do, where to go & how it all suited the needs of their pup:

We just got back from a fantastic road trip to San Francisco and, like any loving dog owners, we didn’t want to leave our beloved pooch behind. At first we were apprehensive about bringing Blu along, but upon doing a little research we discovered how amazingly dog-friendly SF is.  If you’re looking to get away and want to bring your pup along, definitely consider the Bay City. Here’s just at tiny sample of what the city has to offer…

We stayed at Hotel Palomar, which is right in Downtown making it convenient to see many of the more touristy sites and yet be able to get off the beaten path (make sure you have a car). Hotel Palolmar is part of the Kimpton Hotels group which is known for being dog friendly. Upon arriving they had some refreshments waiting in the lobby for both us and Blu. They are very accommodating when it comes to their four-legged guests, offering access to various local services including things like grooming and dog walkers.

As far as activities go, there is plenty to do. We opted for a really cool hike near the Golden Gate Bridge. In the National Park just North of the bridge, there are a bunch of great trails that range in distance so you can make it as long or short as  your dog, or you, can handle. We chose the Rodeo Trail which was about 1 hr and 30 mins, perfect for us. Despite the fog, the views are beautiful and the terrain is very passable yet challenging enough to keep it exciting. The whole experience is not to be missed for folks who like a good hike and even those that simply enjoy a little time outdoors.

Back in the heart of the city, we found everyone to be really welcoming of Blu. She was allowed in every store we went to, and there are A LOT to check out. There are also a ton of parks that you can just hang out in for some R&R. While in The Mission (our favorite hood), we grabbed lunch to-go at Tartine Bakery & Cafe and walked down to Dolores Park just minutes away to enjoy a picnic with Blu.  To her delight, on the North East corner of the park we found Jeffery’s Natural Pet Foods. They were sooooo nice and helpful— they make their own raw natural dog food on site, as well as delicious freeze-dried chicken treats. Blu also LOVED the Happy Pet Organics treats (another San Fran based company) that they sold there. Her favorite were the organic banana and jerky bundles. These treats smell so good, I can only imagine how great they taste.

After a long day out on the town, we took Blu to Russian Hill Dog Grooming, located in the the really cute Russian Hill area. They were fabulous there. They got her all cleaned up  and even offered to express her bum glands too… these gals were good, and so nice!

Like I said, this is just a small snapshot of the trip but the possibilities are seemingly endless with all that San Francisco has to offer. With a little planning, not only can you enjoy the city knowing your pup is in good hands back at the hotel, you can bring them along for most of the fun. And, let’s face it, we are all much happier in the company of our best friends, right?

I love this! What a great experience for both owner and dog. It’s so informative and insightful and yet just all around fun. So much so that I would love to make this a regular feature on the Paws For A Minute blog. Look for more Dog Friendly Travel tips and new  locales coming soon!

What’s new? I am  excited to announce our  shop and new look  coming this September! The Paws for a Minute team and I have been checking out cool pet products all year long!  I have hand-selected the  coolest dog beds, collars, leashes, bowls and accessories to show you! We are a few weeks away to our launch. So get ready to shop! Tell your friends and keep checking back for the announcement date. I have been been consulting, training and shopping for my celeb clients for years and now I’m going to share it all with you. I promise you that you’ll love our fall collection. Coming soon!

This week’s product pick is Pup Orboâ„¢ with Treat spotâ„¢ I love this toy for puppies and senior dogs too! It’s bouncy, minty and specially formulated for teething puppies. It’s the best non-toxic chewy toy on the market for small toy breed dogs and very young 8 to 16 week-old pups. Here’s the best part senior dogs love this toy too! Finally, a great toy for older dogs. Older dogs may have teeth that may be getting fragile and therefore stop chewing and sometimes playing. This toy seems to give them a little pep in their step again! It’s made from a unique formula that encourages chewing, gnawing and is recyclable. My dog Daisy just turned 14 years old and she loves this thing!  She turns into a playful, feisty puppy upon seeing this toy, it’s lovely to watch.

Mark your calenders in just 2 weeks Paws for a Minute is opening our on-line store!  This toy and so many other cool, bed’s collar’s, bowls and more will be available. Stay tuned!