swankypet.net News & Dog Blog

Meet Swanky Pet, Miley!

2010-03-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

This adorable little girl is, Miley who lives in Ontario, Canada with Mom, Lisa. Lisa tells me:

"She is our new baby. She was born Sept.2009 I got her for Christmas from my husband. She is a schnoddle. She is only 11 pounds won't get much bigger. She loves her baby... its an orange bear she carries all around the house. Her personality is amazing, she's daddys little girl and she's the princess of the house. A friend of mine told me about swanky pets, I just purchased her 2 collars, she looks adorable in them."

We think Miley looks so sweet in her She Loves Me collar! Thanks for sending in her photo!

March's Winner!

2010-03-05T16:46:00.000-08:00

This month's winner of a FREE collar is Meg and her little Audrey. She is adorable in her Princess Puppy Pirate harness. Mom, Meg tells us how Audrey became a member of her family:

" Last year I traveled to Mexico with a friend, just over the border in tijuana because she had never been. We got a little off the beaten path and stumbled upon a 2x2 dirty pet shop, two cages with 2 big pups on the bottom and 10 little ones on the top. Audrey was the weakest and was being stepped on by other dogs. As soon as I saw her I knew I couldn't leave her there, the man struggled on the price and finally gave her to me for $160. Upon re-entry into the US the border patrol stopped me and told me that dogs coming over the border must be 5 months old and have all their shots, he looked at Audrey weighing only 1 oz and said " Look, most of these dogs are improperly bred and die within a week, I see it all the time, but I tell you what, I'll let you take her, but I would get her to a vet right away" and I did. She was malnurished and was just 4 weeks old, she should have still been nursed by her mother another 4 weeks, she also had flees, luckily no parasites or anything intestinal. Today she is a spolied 1yr old, who goes on hikes, goes to the dog park, gets beautifully groomed, has her own bed and toys and is flying first class to Minnesota with me for 4th of July weekend at my cabin up north. She is a great dog and has just recently landed a pet agent here in LA. I think it's a truly rags to riches story."

Meet SwankyPet, Miss Bossy Pants!

2010-03-03T18:55:00.001-08:00

Cutest dog name - EVER!

I'll call her "MBP" and she is a beautiful Pitbull who lives with mom, Michelle in Klamath, Oregon. Michelle sent me the nicest email and photo of MBP:

'Here is a picture for your website of my pup, Miss Bossy Pants, wearing the Love is All You Need collar. I'd love to be entered into your drawing for a free collar! :) I love your selection and the quality of your collars and leads. I get many, many compliments on them.

Of course I'd love to tell you all about her - that's one of my very favorite things to do! Miss Bossy Pants is a 12 month old Pitbull. I picked her out when she was only a week old and fell in love with her immediately because, out of a litter of 9 puppies, she was the only one that had that beautiful chocolate coloring. She has the best personality. She is smart & whitty, playful & attentive, she loves other dogs & thinks everyone is her best friend! She loves her toys & blankets, going for walks, playing fetch or simply sitting on the couch with us to cuddle. I've never owned a dog before, and I must say, the experience with Bossy has brought a lot of joy to our lives.'

Collars for the Cure!

2010-03-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

During the month of March, we will be donating $1 for each item you purchase to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

Stay tuned and watch our progress!!!

Together we will donate towards an incredible cause.

More Than 80% of Some Dogs Have This Disease - What Is It?

2010-02-25T06:14:00.000-08:00

Great article from Pet Place.com and a reminder for those of us who tend to spoil your dogs by over-feeding them:

I recently attended the North American Veterinary Conference - a large annual conference in Orlando. Dozens of speakers communicate new information to veterinarians and vendors show off new products in the exhibit hall. I'd like to pass along some things I learned at the conference today to help keep you up to date with the newest and latest information.

So, which disease affects more than 80% of some dogs? It is arthritis. I have always known that this was a common disease in dogs but I didn't know just how common. Based on research, 33% of adults (human) have arthritis and more than 20% of all dogs have arthritis. With age or obesity those numbers get even higher. This is unbelievable but about 83% of obese dogs have arthritis*!

Like I said, I knew the number was high but I didn't know it was that high. That is amazing.

I guess it makes good sense. The more weight the dog (or human) carries, the more stress is put on their joints. As for age, most seniors (humans) have some aches and pains somewhere, just from constant wear and tear. This is probably why many dogs seem to slow down as they get older. But this really makes you stop and think - it may not be that these dogs are just getting old - it may be that they just plain hurt.

Exercising your Senior Dog

Exercise and play is important to all dogs, including your elderly dog.

First of all, exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight may lead to a number of health problems. It places excess stress on your pet's heart. Excess weight on degenerating joints can speed up the development of arthritis.

Your elderly dog's mental health may also benefit from exercise. Activity keeps oxygen and other nutrients at optimum levels in the brain. The brain is like every other organ in the body in that it requires good nutrition.

Meet SwankyPet, Dexter!

2010-02-23T18:31:00.001-08:00

This little cutie is Dexter who lives in Sussex, New Jersey with Mom, Corey & Dad, Marko. Corey tells me:

"My fiance Marko and I adopted him from a rescue in North Carolina. The rescue saved him and his brother from a gassing shelter. We had to drive down to North Carolina from New Jersey to get Dexter because he had kennel cough and couldn't be transported with the other pups. The rescue said he is about 15 weeks old and is a terrier mix, however my fiance and I call him a North Carolina Scruffaluffagus. We've had him for a week so far, and he is one of the most interesting dogs I have ever seen. He loves to fetch, and run his toys back into his crate. He is trying his best to learn how to be potty trained. Every person that has met Dexter so far has fallen in love with him. Dexter loves his new collar by Swanky Pets. It fits his personality perfectly, and is very comfortable for him."

Thank you so much for sending us this photo of Dexter - he looks adorable in his new Kiltlifter collar. He's adorable on his own, but the collar kicks it up a notch!

Today's Featured Print: Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

2010-02-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

Today's featured print is: Kiss Me, I'm Irish

Now your dog can get in on the St Patrick's Day fun!

This print features a crisp, white background with tiny green shamrocks. Your dog can't drink green beer with you, but he or she will rock this shamrock collar. This is the perfect St Patrick's Day collar!!

Meet SwankyPets, Lulu-Belle & Bosley!

2010-02-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

I received the nicest email from Stephanie in Concord, NC - Lulu-Belle's & Bosley's mom:

"Hey,
I recently purchased on your last "BUY2" deal a preppy brown plaid leash and harness, and funky retro flower harness for my 2 pugs. Not only do they look stylish, but the feel more comfortable in these than others we had originally purchased at Petsmart (for much more in price). Lulu-Belle is the older pug in the funky retro harness, and the baby Bosley is the one with the preppy brown plaid harness, we wanted to show you how appreciative we are!
Thanks again, hope you enjoy our pic."

How adorable are Lulu-Belle and Bosley? Thanks so much for the photos - it's wonderful to see cute little pugs looking even cuter in their swankywear!

Our Buy 2 - Get 1 Free offer has been extended!!

2010-02-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Spring Holidays we've decided to extend our Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion. When you order three items, enter the code "BUY2" during the checkout process where you are asked "How did you hear about swankypet.net?" and you'll receive a refund for one equal or lower priced item. The refund is manually processed, so you will see a charge for all items, but the refund will be issued within 24 hours.

Excellent Review from Pampered Puppy!

2010-02-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful surprise! And isn't Merry the cutest? You can find daily photos of her at: www.pamperedpuppy.com

There's always been a certain type of plaid that spoke of refined elegance and old-school charm; most of us know that style of plaid under a fancy label to remain nameless here (okay: they rhyme with Durburry, get the idea?). Makes you think of British raincoats and posh afternoon tea.

With Swanky Pet's new Swanky Plaid collar and leash set, your pooch can now be ready for afternoon tea and a good cheerio any time the mood strikes.

The collar is a simple but classy woven plaid fabric in shades of tan, cream, black and wine. I love the color scheme - it goes with everything. Findings are all silver metal: contoured zinc die cast side release buckles, cast D-rings. The buckle itself bears the engraved Swanky Pet logo.

Like all Swanky Pet collars, it's crafted from four layers of fabric and of incredible quality - you can literally see the work that goes into the collar just by hefting it in your hand. I'm continually impressed by the workmanship this company puts into its work - and, of course, I'm loving this particular fabric style.

The leash, like all Swanky Pet leashes, is practically the best thing about the set, and that's saying something. Usually leads are a second fiddle, an afterthought for "matchy matchy" purposes and little else. However, this company puts as much thought into the design of their leads as their collrs - they make it adjustable. The leash (also made from four layers of fabric) comes with a cast slip lock so that it can be adjusted in length, anywhere from 2.5 to 5 feet in length. What's more, the handle features its own d-ring so you can bling up your part of the leash, if you so desire, with charms, dangles or a something functional like a clip-on bag holder.

Fit is fabulous, as we've found before with these products. As long as you measure your pet according to their instructions, you won't have any trouble at all.

We're ready for spring and can't wait to show off our fabulous Swanky Plaid collar set at high tea! Four paws up.

Today's Featured Print: Bon Bon!

2010-01-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

Sweets for your sweet --- this stylish print makes an excellent Valentine's Day gift for your pet when made into a collar, harness or leash. Let's face it - you dog wants the whole matching set to strut through the bark park!

Delicious-looking chocolate truffles are set against a pink background. Since your doggie can't have the real thing, this is an excellent alternative treat.

Get it FREE with our Buy 2, Get 1 FREE promotion - still running. When you order three items, you'll receive a refund for an equal or lower priced item making it easier than ever to get some 'swanky'wear to your pet and not break the bank! Click here to order.

Meet SwankyPet, Tobey!

2010-01-25T06:36:00.000-08:00

Tobey is a Swanky Pet from Toronto, Canada. Mom, Julie tells me:

'Tobey is a very special girl, with lots of energy and loads of love to give! She is extremely sensitive, and aware of people’s emotions, and is a very vocal and communicative member of our little family. She’s the best snuggler we know, and consistently makes us laugh. Her presence in our home is something that both my husband and I adore more than anything, and although we have lost the occasional shoe, pair of sunglasses, underwear, etc., to the jowl monster, to be honest we just don’t know what we’d ever do without her!
Her personality doesn’t really go with any of the collars we have seen on the market, however when we came across your Burberry-inspired collar, we knew she just had to have it! It’s great for her, as she loves playing and of course getting dirty, so the fact that it’s washable was definitely a selling point! We are extremely happy with your product and service, and will definitely be back for more swanky collars!'

Thank you for sending in Tobey's photo - she is adorable!

Devin & Danger

2010-01-22T08:57:00.000-08:00

You will LOVE this story! This is a recent email I received from a lovely mom, Paige in Ft. Benning, GA:

'Thank you so very much for sending such a great collar! This was my first time ordering a special collar from anywhere... and you made it a GREAT experience! My husband recently deployed to Iraq for another tour of duty. To help our middle son with a little seperation anxiety, we decided to get him a Beagle puppy. I wanted to make it extra special and give him a connection to his Dad, so when I found your Advanced Combat Collar I HAD TO HAVE IT! Needless to say, Devin (my son) LOOOVES his puppy (who he named Danger b/c it sounds like a hero name :) and the collar has made it even more perfect!

So, after this long story... I basically wanted to share with you that your product made a special moment even more spectacular than believable! Devin believes the collar means Danger is Army Strong just like his Dad, and he is now sleeping in his own room again comfortably. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!'

Of course, we wish Devin the best with little Danger and Paige's husband a safe return home!

California Search Dogs Giving Hope to Haitians

2010-01-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) has been receiving encouraging cell-phone updates from it's search teams deployed in the earthquake-stricken country of Haiti.

In the aftermath of the powerful 7.0 earthquake, the SDF sent six Canine Search Teams to Haiti to assist with search and rescue efforts. The dogs the foundation employs are sourced from rescue organizations and are tasked with finding people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. SDF recruits the dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments.

On Sunday, the team celebrated saving five people from the ruins of Port au Prince. After one rescue, in which a woman was rescued from the rubble of a hotel, the appreciation shown by locals for the Search Teams and their Task Force was overwhelming, and locals began chanting "USA, USA...". Later in the day, 3 women were saved from the same collapsed building, with Search Dogs Cadillac, Maverick and Hunter playing instrumental roles in locating them. The two teams - the Blue and Red team - work in alternating shifts, ensuring that there is always a team available.

SDF Executive Director Debra Tosch comments: "The rescues in Haiti underscore the critical importance of Canine Search Teams in finding survivors in the aftermath of major disasters. This is our mission, and we're honored to be part of the Haiti rescue effort in conjunction with the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the L.A. Country Task Force."

SDF receives no government funding and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce these highly-skilled teams. Since its founding in 1996, SDF has rescued hundreds of dogs, many on the brink of euthanasia. They have trained 105 Search Teams, 72 of which are currently active, and teams have been deployed to 66 disasters, including the World Trade Center attacks and Hurricane Katrina.

Picture Courtesy of National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

Featured Print of the Day: Bon Bon!

2010-01-13T07:18:00.001-08:00

Looking for a very 'sweet' Valentine's Day print dog collar? Look no further!

Bon Bon is a wonderfully sweet print featuring lots of yummy chocolate truffles set against a pink background. It's the perfect treat for your furry Valentine.

As always, this print is available for collars, harnesses & leads - all made-to-order, specifically for your pet! Since we don't make them until you order - it takes about a week to get these stylish wearable Valentines in the mail to you, so don't delay!

Our Buy 2 - Get 1 Free offer is back!

2010-01-09T07:38:00.001-08:00

To kick off the Spring holidays: Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day and Easter, we've decided to once again offer our Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion. When you order three items, enter the code "BUY2" during the checkout process where you are asked "How did you hear about swankypet.net?" and you'll receive a refund for one equal or lower priced item. The refund is manually processed, so you will see a charge for all items, but the refund will be issued within 24 hours.

Don't forget the Superbowl coming up --- check out our fun NFL prints available for collars, harnesses & leads so your dog can help cheer on your favorite team!

New Prints for 2010!

2010-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

To kick off the start of 2010, we've added several new stylish prints that you are sure to love.

In our Retro Collection:

Beach Umbrella - Get ready for the beach with this colorful and bold striped print!

It Isn't Easy Being Green - This retro-style paisley features many shades of green and teal

Java Jive - Fun, retro-wavy stripes and dots in various shades of brown will turn heads at the coffee house and everywhere else!

Retro Flower Power - Groovy, baby! Colorful retro-style flowers against an espresso-colored background.

Seeing Spots - This fun print features colorful dots in shades of kiwi, teal, grey & white.

In our Patriotic Collection:

Sooperstah! - Your pet will be a superstar in this bright red print with white starbursts.

In our Preppy Collection:

Kensington - This very proper paisley features red, cream, sage green and mustard yellow.

As always, all prints are available for collars, harnesses & leads made especially for your pet!

Holiday Pet Photo Contest

2009-12-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

Does your pet have a cool Christmas collar? Or holiday 'Swankywear'? Post your holiday-themed pet photos to our Facebook page. Each Friday we'll announce a winner who will receive a FREE collar of their choice!

Buy 2, Get 1 Free - Extended!

2009-12-05T09:19:00.001-08:00

We've had a great response to our Buy 2 Get 1 Free promotion, so we are extending it. When you buy 2 collars (or 2 leads) you will get the 3rd one free. Here's how it works: Order 3 collars, 3 leads, etc and enter "Buy2" when asked "How did you hear about swankypet.net?" during the checkout process.

Initially, you'll see the charge for all items when you checkout, but we will manually credit the cost of the free item(s) within 24 hours. As always, our low flat-rate shipping $3.25 allows you to get lots of 'swanky'wear to your door at a very low cost! (International shipping may incur additional shipping costs)

So, don't delay - get your pet's Christmas list filled early!

Coming soon: Retro Flower Power!

2009-12-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

You'll love this new retro print for collars, harnesses & leads -- it's called Retro Flower Power and will be added to the website very soon.

This fun retro print features an espresso-brown background with lots of colorful 60's-styled daisies, which will have your pet saying, 'groovy, baby!'

Until Retro Flower Power is added to the site, we are taking pre-orders by special order: inquiries@swankypet.net

Coming soon: Java Jive!

2009-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

Do you love Retro Print Dog Collars? If so, you'll love the latest addition to our Retro Collection --- Java Jives!

This stylish print features lots of groovy dots and sleek stripes in various shades of brown, coffee, latte, espresso - you name it - your dog will be the center of attention wearing it accompanying you to the local coffee shop.

Look for Java Jives to be added soon to our Retro Collection. It's also available for pre-order on a special order basis. Email: inquiries@swankypet.net

Buy 2, Get 1 Free - continues!

2009-11-26T04:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-22T08:00:00.001-08:00

For a limited time we are offering a special - when you buy two collars, you receive the third collar free. Enter "Buy2" when asked "How did you hear about swankypet.net?" during the checkout process.

Initially, you'll see the charge when you checkout, but we will manually credit the cost of the free item within 24 hours. As always, our low flat-rate shipping $3.25 allows you to get lots of 'swanky'wear to your door at a very low cost!

So, don't delay - get your pet's Christmas list filled early!

Today's Featured Print: Holly Jolly!

2009-11-20T06:03:00.001-08:00

Are you looking for a stylish holiday pet collar? Then we have the perfect print for your dog or cat (or any other pet)!

Today we are featuring Holly Jolly (pictured here). This stylish Christmas Print features a crisp, white background with lots of colorful holly leaves and berries which really represent the holiday season.

Holly Jolly is available for collars, leads and harnesses, which are available in 5 standard sizes (Teacup through Large). However, because all items are made-to-order, we are happy to make custom-sized items to fit your pet!

So, turn your pet, into a Swanky Holiday Pet with our festive holiday prints!

Swine Flu Infects Housecat—Are Your Pets Safe?

2009-11-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

Source: ASPCA.org

Ever since the news broke earlier this month that an American cat caught the swine flu, rumors about how pets can catch this disease have been spreading—but we're here to set the record straight!
"On November 2, test results confirmed that a pet cat in Iowa was infected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, which was most likely transmitted by human family members," reports Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. "All family members, including the cat, have now recovered. In unrelated incidents in other states, a few pet ferrets also recently tested positive for H1N1, and one of them has died.” Although we already knew that infected humans could transmit H1N1 to both pigs and turkeys, these are the first reported cases of the virus affecting cats and ferrets.
According to Dr. Murray, there are no known instances of a dog catching H1N1 (but remember, it is flu season, and your dogs are still susceptible to catching other flu bugs). In addition, there is currently no evidence that H1N1 can be passed from pet to human—it seems to be going only the other way, with people transmitting the illness to their pets.
A little common sense will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of passing the illness on to your pets. If members of your household are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, the ASPCA recommends protecting your pets by:

washing hands thoroughly,
covering coughs and sneezes and
avoiding close contact with pets during the course of the illness.

In fact, if you’re sick, it’s a good idea to give your pets a place other than your bedroom to sleep at night until you get better.
If any pet displays symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing—especially if a human family member has recently suffered from influenza—please contact your veterinarian.