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

Dog Fashion Week Does it Again

Designers brace for the second annual NY Pet Fashion Week

Pet Fashion Week strikes again, scheduled for an August 2007 launch in New York City. Last year's show made more than a few big name stylists turn their heads and look down to take account of the impact our furry fashionistas are making. Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Juicy Couture, and Kiehl's are in the works of getting involved with the upcoming canine couture extravaganza, having already created pooch apparel lines this spring. Ralph Lauren came out with a canine cashmere sweater, Juicy Couture with a line of signature doggy sweats and rumor has it that Adidas may be jumping on board to introduce a line of four-legged footwear. With big name involvement stirring up the style industry, there's no telling how far and wide pet fashion will spread this season.

Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, anticipates pet expenditures to burgeon to $52.4 billion by 2009. Pet Fashion Week 2007 expects equally large growth, estimating participation by over 120 vendors. Representing the Mecca of canine fashion and displaying the hottest in what's haute, this is not an event to be missed by industry buffs or canine enthusiasts. Once again in August dogs will take over the catwalk for a week of fashion, fun and fur.

Click here to get all the details.

Photo found on Flickr

Tags: pet fashion week, new york, fashion

Bye Bye Superbowl, Hello Puppybowl

Something is different about Superbowl Sunday; the players are furry and of the pooch persuasion, the half time show is run by acrobatic cats, and the tailgate party goers will be indulging in bones rather than beer.

This year, half time is hound time as Animal Planet kicks off their 3rd annual Puppybowl. The Puppybowl III premiers Sunday February 4, 2007 on Animal Planet and features the best in four legged football.

Charitable as well as entertaining, the Puppybowl stars canines rescued by Animal Rescue League and other local shelters in the Washington D.C. area. With the help of Animal Planet, these pigskin playing pups have a chance of adoption to a loving home. In addition, the Animal Planet website directs viewers to its sister service, PETFINDER.COM, "the best resource for finding adoptable pets." Through the related sites, perspective pet parents can obtain useful information about adopting a hound of their own.

Click here to watch clips from last years festivities.

Tags: super bowl, animal planet, puppybowl

Fido Gets Fit

Exercise gadgets go to the dogs

Is your pooch packing on the pounds? We know, it's winter and it's hard to motivate and step outside on frosty mornings for a little aerobic exercise. But remember, if Bowzer is like most, his day is pretty domestic and there's not a lot of room to roam in the home. Your pup needs to move; for the sake of his health, well being and behavior.

The Dog Walker Treadmill may have the solution for pet parents pressed for time. Weighing in at about 3 feet and 25 lbs, this workout equipment offers an indoor exercise alternative. Don't let the Dog Walker's small size fool you, this quadruped tread is making major blows in the fight against canine obesity. Now your furry friend can hop on and run to his heart's content any time of day. The Dog Walker simulates natural running and lets your pup go at his own pace and carry on for as long as he pleases. This cool canine gadget is complete with remote control speed adjustment from 0 to 3 mph, safety guard rail, and light compact design...and the whole package isn't that heavy on your wallet; the Dog Walker totals just over $130 dollars.

Photo thanks to Popgadget.net
Tags: Treadmill, dog, animal

Talk with the Animals

Do you converse with your canine? Do you think your pet is psychic? Don't worry, you're in good company. Our fascination with four legged family members spans far and wide. Even celebrities can't resist the temptation to talk to their furry friends. It seems normal enough, but how about when the dogs talk back?

Pete Townshend, guitarist of The Who, parles with his pooch and claims that his dog has the ability to predict the future. Townshend was quoted as saying, "I believe my dogs talk to me. One of the dogs told me it was going to snow this week."

Earlier this year we heard of Barbara Walters, who claimed her Havanese dog, Cha-Cha, spoke directly to her to say, "I love you." Co-hosts on "The View" had a field day with the idea that a pup professed his love, but how strange is it?

Thousands of Americans believe their pets have the ability to communicate and even act as clairvoyants. Check out this website devoted to documenting people's paranormal experiences with domestic animals. While you're cruising the site, scroll down to test your pet's psychic abilities and read their horoscope.

Photo found on flickr
Technorati tags: The Who, Barbara Walters, Psychic, "the view"

Pet Fashion Meets Paris Hilton

Miss Hilton: Socialite. Fashionista. Designer?

The heiress to the Hilton fortune is constantly making waves with her lavish lifestyle. But we will resist talking about cocktail party mishaps, DUI's, or celebrity quarrels... the topic of the day is doggy design. A front runner in the fashion scene, Paris Hilton now tries her hand at canine couture. The 25 year old heiress has long since been spotted with Tinkerbell, the world's richest Teacup Chihuahua, slung under one arm and dripping in designer doggy gear.

Hilton has put pet fashion in the forefront of our pop culture's subconscious, opening the gates for a slew of celebrities and big name labels to follow. It only makes sense that the Simple Life star would get directly involved in the trends she helped create. Little Lily launched on Monday and will be available in stores in the next coming months. Thanks Paris, for bringing attention to our furry friends!

Photo found on Flickr

Technorati tag: "Paris Hilton"

A Humble Doggy Domicile

Chow down on this... Charlene Grayson of Blossom Valley, an extreme canine enthusiast, has erected an $80,000 abode for her precious pooches. A proud parent of six Chow Chows, Grayson has spared no expense in converting this doghouse into a pooch palace. The doggy domicile boasts calming earth tone color schemes, elegant decor, six separate sleeping quarters and a flat screen TV permanently tuned to Animal Planet.

Grayson was inspired to create what neighbors refer to as the "Chow Mahal" in 1999 when a piece of land behind her property became available for sale. Charlene and husband quickly snatched up the real estate and designed the custom made doghouse, or should we say mansion.

Charlene reports spending most of her time in the Chow Mahal along with her furry friends. She quotes, "They're just the best companions in the world . . . My husband and I joke that the more we know about people, the more we love our dogs." The couple is currently undergoing construction to build a new Chow Mahal on their new property in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A Brew for Bowzer

Ever care to share a brew with Bowzer? Well now you can thanks to Terrie Berenden of Amsterdam, the recent creator of Kwispelbier, a.k.a. "the beer for your best friend." Kwispelbier, dutch for "wagging tail" is not really a beer at all but rather a non alchoholic concoction of reduced beef broth and malt. Meaning unless you're a hardcore meat lover, you may still opt for a Heineken at a quarter of the price. Kwispelbier retails in Europe for around $3.00 a bottle, but can be found domestically under the name Happy Tail Ale from Dog Star Brewing.

What inspired Berenden to create the canine cocktail? She comments, "Once a year we go to Austria to hunt with our dogs, and at the end of the day we sit on the verandah and drink a beer. So we thought, my dog also has earned it."

Canines on the Computer

Dogs dominating the online social scene

It's likely that your furry friend may be the most popular online persona in your household. Online social networking sites for four-legged pets make it possible for canines to make connections with other local dogs. Dogster and Catster.com, pet social forums modeled after human social networking sites like Friendster and Myspace are growing in popularity and numbers. The quadruped sites include all the perks of the biped forums; boasting user profiles, contacts and special interest groups.

Booming in popularity, Dogster.com reports having over 300,000 members and serving 20 million page views last month alone. Company revenues are also skyrocketing with the two sites pulling in six-figure monthly revenues through marketing and advertising campaigns.

Dogster and Catster launched at an extremely opportune time, with nearly 63 percent of American households harboring one or more animals. Pet owners, it’s time to get involved. Check out the respective sites at:
www.Dogster.com
www.Catster.com

Photo found on Flickr

Doggy Decor

New Trends in Home Design


Since when does canine furniture have to be quarantined in a separate room or corner of the house? New innovations in doggy décor make it easy to blend human with hound pieces.

Many interior designers believe that quadruped and biped furniture can coexist by using dog furniture that mimics styles and themes present in the home. Take for example the ottoman-like dog house pictured in the upper left. The quilted leather number is a revamped rendition inspired by ancient Turkish Court traditions. Through the use of artful decorations and accessories, canine furniture can be functional as well as fashionable.

Browse through the Beds and More section on Signafur.com for hound accessories to meet all your home décor needs.

Photo thanks to Gainesville.com

A Cross Country Trip to Help Hefty Hounds

Hill's Petfit Mobile Tour

Is your pooch a bit pudgy? If so, you're not alone. There are about 48 million overweight dogs and cats living in the United States alone -- a startling 35 percent of the entire pet population. While a little extra meat on the bones may not seem such a big deal to the average biped, just a few extra pounds on a pooch can be detrimental to his overall health. A recent report by Hill's Pet Nutrition finds that, "just five extra pounds on a medium size breed like a Beagle is the equivalent of nearly 25 pounds on an average woman."

A healthy diet and regular exercise routine is essential to managing your pet's wellness. Not sure whether or not your furry friend should loose a few? Find out by taking him to the Hill's PetFit Mobile for a free weight and diet assessment. Catch the doggy diet caravan on the following dates:

* San Francisco, CA (January 19 through February 11)
* Los Angeles, CA (February 14 through March 4)
* Phoenix, AZ (March 9 through March 31)
* Washington, DC (April 7 through April 29)
* New York, NY (May 2 through May 22)
* Chicago, IL (May 26 through June 16)

Visit www.petfit.com for more information.

Photo found on Flickr

Space Age Fashion

Canine Couture Gets Cosmic

January 16, 2007 – Berlin, Germany.
Four fashion forward pups strut down the runway showing off their new space age threads. NASA, more universally known for Mars exploration and placing men on the moon, has now tried their hand at canine couture. The pooches pictured are sporting the new "outlast technology," designed to comfortably withstand extreme fluctuations in temperature.

The new products were previewed yesterday in Berlin, Germany at the 'Home-Animals and Plants 2007' fair. The new releases signify the growing popularity and market for canine fashion; domestically, internationally and now possibly, inter-galactically.

Thanks NASA, for making the future so fashionable!
Photo thanks to the Associated Press

Labrador Crowned Most Popular Pup

Yorkie tails in a close second

For the sixteenth consecutive year, the Labrador retriever has been named the most popular U.S. pure breed. The announcement was made yesterday by the American Kennel Club after officials tallied 2006 dog owner registration data. However, after nearly two decades of undisputed victory, the Labrador may have a little competition in next year's running. And when we say little, we mean petite. The Yorkshire Terrier trotted in with second place this year, marking the first time in 67 years that a toy breed has stolen the runner up position.

What’s the reason for the recent trend? Several factors must be taken in account; smaller living quarters, metropolitan apartment-dwelling dog enthusiasts, celebrity pet appeal, and of course the fact that a Lab won’t fit in a dainty designer purse.

Did your dog make the top ten list? Here are the final standings:
At No. 3 was the German Shepherd, followed by the Golden Retriever, Beagle, Dachshund, Boxer, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Miniature Schnauzer.

Photo thanks to Reuters

Celebrity Dish

Jennifer Love Hewitt, a shrink, and a spaniel

Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of the hit show 'Ghost Whisperer', put her pooch on anti-depressants this week upon the recommendation of a pet therapist. Charlie, a King Charles spaniel, was taken to the doggy doctor after strange behavior surfaced.
Love Hewitt remarks that Charlie was licking "intensely." Charlie's veterinarian determined the behavior to be signs of an anxiety disorder and prescribed Prozac for the pooch.

Hewitt recalls, "She started doing this weird, like, intense licking thing, where she would, like, lick the air... and she's got an anxiety disorder, so they put her on Prozac…now she's as happy as ever."

Photo thanks to Celebrity Dog Blog

Animals Inspire Art

Puppy love through the ages

Think puppy love is a relatively new phenomenon marked by designer dog attire and day trips to the doggy spa? Well, we beg to differ. Our culture's connection to dogs dates way back. See for yourself at Feathers, Fins, and Furs, a new multimedia exhibit created by the students of John Hopkins University. Curator of the museum, Catherine Rogers Arthur offers, "This is an opportunity to view Homewood in a different way and imagine the nonhuman family members that trotted the halls and scratched the furniture."

The exhibit uncovers early America's relationship with domestic pets through a collection of antique art pieces. Examining the artwork provides valuable insights into the roots of American pet-parent relations. Many of our modern day practices stem from century old traditions. Arthur comments, "We found evidence of dogs eating off of utilitarian stoneware like kitchen crockery — not dog bowls."

Feathers, Fins, and Furs can be seen at Homewood House, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore through March 11, 2007.

Photo thanks to the Examiner

Canine Concept Car

Doggy Trends for 2007

Get ready; soon it will be time to once again update your canine conscious lifestyle. New pooch friendly product innovations make it easy to say goodbye to annoyance ridden road trips with Fido. Allow us to introduce Honda's new canine concept car, the WOW (Wonderful Open-Hearted Wagon), designed to create the most enjoyable driving experience for pet and parent alike.

The WOW features pop down crates in the dashboard area with adjustable climate control making this the most sophisticated pet carrier we've seen. The inner cabin boasts a hardwood front to back panel walk through section so that your pooch can move freely throughout the vehicle. Additional pooch conscious considerations include a lower center of gravity for a more stable and steady ride and an integrated ventilation system to keep pets cool when they are alone in the car.

Click here to check out more pet fashion trends for 2007

Photo thanks to the Toronto Star