Have Music Will Travel

Lifepop is a life saver

For trendy kids who can't be torn between love of music and mutts, Lifepop offers a way to tote both in one fashion forward package. The newly released music pet carrier is reminiscent of the early eighties boasting boom box design and over sized round oonce-oonce speakers.

Making it's debut at the Oscar's and being offered exclusively to select red carpet stars, the Lifepop has set itself up for a very fashionable future, to be seen slung over the arms of our nations socialites.

The Lifepop tote offers several uses; pet purse, yoga bag, airplane carry on, and of course portable stereo system compatible with any Ipod, mp3 player, or laptop. We expect big things from the little company based out of Brooklyn, NY.

While miniature portable audio devices are cute and dainty, let's face it, nothing says "I love my music" like a massive stereo. So, thanks Lifepop, for making life's soundtrack audible.

Signafur Signs Off

Canine fashion takes a bow wow

Oh the places we have been! Signafur has seen canine fashion through it's highs and lows; from the upper crust to the down and dirty. We've witnessed everything from black tie doggy weddings to pooch smooch offs, barkeries, balls, runway shows to canine cruises, and we did it all for the love of dog.

After nearly a year of globetrotting on the search for the latest style trends with Signafur scouts popping up in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Tel Aviv, Signafur.com is taking a bow. The renowned online pet fashion boutique is closing it's virtual doors. We have loved serving the canine community and would like to thank all of our fans, readers, customers and crew who helped make Signafur into a success. Stay tuned to the blog for updates on future Signafur ventures and for all of your canine fashion news.

Thank you all!
The entire Signafur crew

Bow Vows Exchanged

Love Doggy Style


Does Cupid have you down? Don't get discouraged, love is for the dogs. The scene -- Valentines Day 2007, Hong Kong. 18 young pups gather to exchange their wedding vows.

These pups were hot to trot and ready to tie the knot at yesterday's puppy love ceremony. Nine canine couples gathered at a popular shopping hot spot in downtown Hong Kong on the eve of Valentines Day, dressed in tuxes, gowns and veils. Reuters news comments, "Bells tolled as the eighteen dogs, decked in full wedding regalia, walked the aisle at a shopping mall in Causeway Bay, the city's busiest shopping neighbourhood." The event was hosted as a publicity stunt to raise awareness and funds for local animal charities. The canine couples barked bow vows and exchanged wedding chokers in lieu of traditional rings.

Events of this sort have been gaining popularity recently in the UK and the United States. This week's hound wedding helps to introduce new dog concepts to the Hong Kong market and spark interest in canine culture. Thanks Hong Kong, for showing us that marriage really has gone to the dogs.

Photo thanks to Reuters

Cosby and the Canine

A celebrity canine stole the show yesterday at the 131st Westminster Dog Show in NYC. Harry, the furry companion of comedian Bill Cosby, performed like a true champ in the final day of competitions. Harry, named after Prince Harry, remains true to his namesake -- "playful and a bit of a mischief maker," wnbc.com remarks. But there was no funny business at the show, Harry's performance was brilliant and left room for no competition, literally. As the only Dandie Dinmont enrolled in the show, the best of breed award was handed over to him with no grovels or barks about it.

But don't be fooled, this pup does not need hand outs; his impeccable training and dashing looks has afforded him the honor of No. 1 show dog in America, winning 57 competitions last year alone. Cosby's superstitions kept him away from the arena at showtime, but his daughter was there to cheer the Harry on.

Photo thanks to Fox News

For the Love of Dog

A few days before the Westminster Dog Show begins is when the real party animals come out. Iris Love, archaeologist and Dachshund enthusiast, revels in the annual opportunity to throw one of the dog world's biggest bashes. Accompanied by her two favorite quadrupeds, Daphne and Cherubino, and 500 of their closest friends, Love took over Tavern on the Green with festive attire. This year's party theme was Mardi Gras and invitees fit the bill wearing feathered masks, dachshund pendants and loads of bling. Dogs barked, beads flew through the air, and the jazz band played into the wee hours of the night.

Why does this socialite go through all the trouble? For the love of dog of course. Reporter and Westminster Bash invitee, Liz Smith, offers, "Iris just loves to dress up and wear silly hats."

The festivities continue as we lead into the main event; The 131st Annual Westminster Dog Show wrapping up today at Madison Square Garden. The lineup includes 2,628 dogs strutting their stuff and competing for best in show. Signafur will keep you posted on all the details, so stay tuned.

Photo thanks to USA Today

Weekend Wrap Up

Couture for the climate

Brrrrr... Signafur scouts in the Big Apple froze their tales off this weekend on the lookout for hound happenings. One thing is for sure, all the pups who dared to explore the city on Saturday were dressed to the 9's, the K9's that is. Furry fashionistas on Fifth Ave were decked out in head to toe coverage.

Sunday saw warmer temperatures in New York and once again Central Park was filled with pups sporting no more than a light parka and four legged friends in Chelsea were back out on the streets in muscle tees.

But let us not forget, winter is not over yet. Don't let your canine catch a cold because he is unprepared for the elements. Signafur has the gear to stay warm no matter what mother nature dishes out. Here's our recommended picks to ride out the rest of the season with:

Doggles -- Dust, debris and doggy eyes don't mix. Stay safe and stylish with these hot hound glasses.

G2 Sneakers -- It's high time to get your canine some kicks. G2 Sneakers protect paws from the elements and look great doing it.

Quilted Coat -- Keep your hound hot and haute in this little number. It's red, it's cozy, you'll want to borrow it.

Photo found on Flickr

Daycare Down Under

Australian daycare caters to all kinds

Wagin' Tails Dog Daycare in inner Brisbane, Australia has seen it all and gives new meaning to the term "pampered pet." Does your pooch need a cut and color while you're at work? No problem, a full salon with veteran stylists can take that on. Does he have a finicky diet of only the finest? That's okay, Wagin' Tails can accommodate that too.

The pooch in the upper left is being treated to a new do, trying out pink -- the salon's most popular color for furry fashionistas. Wagin' Tails Daycare oversees 100 particular pups per week, each with his own tailored preferences and schedule. One client likes to start his mornings with a plate of warm scrambled eggs, another prefers to catch an episode of Days of Our Lives. Manager Jodie Hartz, acknowledges, "It's very similar to childcare. You've got packs of dogs running together and you've got to supervise them constantly.''

Anything goes at Wagin' Tails. And it's no wonder why -- Australians very closely tail Americans in pet related spending. In 2005, Aussies spent a whopping $4.62 billion on pet products, a figure that makes the $33 dollar daycare fee seem nominal.

Photo thanks to The Courier

Doggy 209

A resourceful, agile canine who eluded authorities for years has recently been rescued. Allow us to introduce you to Doggy 209 --the true king of the road. The infamous pup claimed the 209km marker on an expressway in Taipei, Taiwan for his home and camped out on the side of the road for two years, taking frequent trips into the flow of traffic and presenting drivers with safety hazards.

Taipei Police tried on 52 separate attempts to capture Doggy 209 and were unsuccessful on all counts. It wasn't until a crew of canine lovers on a mission came along that the homeless hound was finally brought to safety. Within six hours the ten citizens had successfully caught Doggy 209.

Why couldn't the cops nab the notorious pooch? "Some traffic officers said that Doggy 209 had shown high intelligence, distinguishing between ordinary cars and traffic police cars. When a yellow traffic police car pulled up, Doggy 209 fled. When traffic police left food in a cage to trap it, it never went near the cage," News24.com reports.

Onlookers were in part hoping the pup would remain at large in the spirit of freedom and rebellion, but inevitably Doggy 209 will be more comfortable calling home a house and not a highway.

Photo found on Flickr

A Bakery for Bowzer

Bristol, Connecticut

While lounging at home with your pup, why not pop open a bottle of "Barkundy" or "Pinot Leasheo". A new bakery, or should we say barkery in Bristol, Connecticut offers these and many more snacks for human and hound to share. We should warn, this wine is best paired with mashed potatoes, concocted of gravy not grapes.

Owner, Sharon Baillargeon, comments, "It's all human-grade food, but I only sell it for dogs. I mean, I don't control what people do with it after they leave the store, but I only market this for canines."

Sharon's K9 Barkery boasts a most delicious selection of handmade and organic doggy treats ranging from simple biscuits to biscotti and cookies to cannolies. The snacks are scrumptious and 100 percent canine safe; you won't find anything on the label that wouldn't appear in a health food store. Sharon's canine treats are inspired by a collection of recipes for people living with diabetes, substituting sugar for honey, chocolate for carob and so on.

If you are in the neighborhood, drop by Sharon's K9 Bakery on the corner of Clark Street and Route 6 in Deerfield Commons, Connecticut.

Photo found on Flickr

Mutts Make a Come Back

Popularity of pedigrees waining

"Mutts are like real couture. There are no two alike," fashion icon, Isaac Mizrahi, commented to USA Today gloating about his true love, Harry, an adopted mixed breed.

While the picture in the upper left features a pure blooded beagle sporting a Mizrahi Polo, Isaac's heart is with half breed hounds, and he's not the only one. Mutts are moving up in the dog world and are adopted at nearly the same rate as purebreds nowadays.

Michael Mountain of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah agrees, commenting, "It's more fashionable to have a standard, old-fashioned mutt...The 'in' thing is not to have a very well-bred, very expensive dog." Mountain says the growing fascination with mixed breeds dates back to the mid 1990's when public awareness was heightened to the millions of mutts in shelters who would be euthanized. A new wave of social consciousness coupled with purebred health concerns has made mongrels the new popular pup choice.

That's right, say goodbye to the days of pedigrees ruling Park Avenue. Now a mix can mingle with the big dogs.

The Weekend Wrap Up

You may have missed it, but you won't miss out. Here's a recap of happenings in the hound world that took place over the weekend.

On Friday, extreme sport pups, baby carriage-pushing and piano playing pooches put their best paws forward during a Charm School & Talent Show at the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in New York City.

Later in the day, Honda Motors released the Vamos; a minivan designed for your mutt. The Vamos includes pooch friendly options including water and odor resistant seats, spacious fold down rear seats and tick resistant floor matts. The dogmobile is currently available in Japan for a little over $12,000 bones.

Saturday was ultra stylish in Indiana as the Alterra Sterling House sponsored an exclusive dog fashion show, displaying the latest in canine couture. As a finale to the fashion show, two hounds got hitched. All proceeds benefit the local humane society.

Sports fans got riled up on Sunday watching the much less publicized PuppyBowl III on Animal Planet where young canines competed for the championship title. Get all the final stats and details here.

Moving on to the international scene; Bangalore, India offered the 84th and 85th All-India Championship Dog Shows on Sunday. Over 400 entries were received, but only a lucky few were chosen Best in Show.

That brings us to Monday, so let's get out there and make some doggy news!

Photo thanks to Hindu.com

A Pup with Presidential Standards

Help this terrier get a date with the first dog

A three year old Scottish terrier from Kent, Washington has her sights on Barney Bush, the president's pooch. Kenzie, the starstruck youngster, has a huge crush on the presidential canine. Owner, Shelby Dobbs, says it's not hard to see why. "Barney is like the Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise of dogs, so he's high up on the celebrity dog scale," she said.

This pooch has even professed her love in a personalized video addressed to the first dog. In the video, with the help of doggy translations, Kenzie pleads with Barney for a date or at least an email. The lovesick terrier concludes that the two are perfect for one another; both lovers of sports, travel and recreation. The video premiered on YouTube earlier this week and has already racked up over 750,000 views.

Kenzie's parents are planning an East Coast trip this fall and hope to arrange a play date between their love struck terrier and the presidential pup.

Want to help? Click here to email Barney and watch Kenzie's video.

Photo thanks to Mydatewithbarney.com
Tags: YouTube, Barney, White House

Pups in the Promise Land

Canine culture takes off in Tel Aviv

A land of milk and honey...and hounds. Israel's pooch population is soaring as canines become a more essential part of the family unit. There are currently 20,000 registered dogs in Tel Aviv alone, making the human to hound ratio 1 to 18.5.

"It's fun to be a dog in Tel Aviv...The city considers the needs of dogs and their owners. It allows [dogs] to live in the public domain. It's comfortable for the animals, and it's comfortable for the people," Tamara Elbaz, a dog groomer and Tel Aviv resident recently remarked in an interview with the New York Times. Elbaz has witnessed the canine scene flourish in her city, letting way to a slew of grooming and specialty shops as well as dog parks and recreation areas.

Elbaz attributes Israel's booming interest in furry friends simply to companionship -- Tel Aviv is a city saturated with new immigrants, many of whom do not yet share a common language. Having a puppy serves as an icebreaker, as a way to make connections with your surrounding community. Elbaz comments, "People approach you, you get to talking. Dogs solve the problem of loneliness in a big city."

Are you curious about pooch-people relations in international destinations? Write to Signafur and we'll research the answer for you and post it to the blog.

Photo found on Flickr
Tags: tel aviv, New York Times, culture