Holiday Pet Photo Contest

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!

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!

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!

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!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

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!

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!

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?

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.

Buy 2 Collars, Get 1 Free!

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! 

Introducing: Groovy Dots!

There is a new Retro-Print Collar in town!

New to our Retro Collection, Groovy Dots features a black background with polka dots in pink, white and green. The fabric is a home dec fabric, so it is heavier-weight and sturdy! All top-quality metal hardware are standard, but if you prefer a lighter weight collar, we'll be happy to make your items with black plastic buckles.

This smart and groovy print will have your dog turning heads when you're out for walks, at the bark park or anywhere you go!

Order yours today! All orders for this print are 20% off through midnight Monday, Nov 16th.

Prebiotics in Dog Food

Interesting article from PetPlace.com:

When you were at the store shopping for dog food, you may have noticed a label on the bag promoting a new ingredient.

That new ingredient is "prebiotics". Have you seen it?

There has been a push for more "natural" dog foods that work to promote health through good nutrition. This has led to several valuable developments in the pet food industry. One of these developments is a better understanding of the role of good and bad bacteria in dogs.

The idea is to maximize the good bacteria and minimize the bad bacteria naturally. Prebiotics do just that. Prebiotics are non-digestible ingredients in food that stimulate the growth of good bacteria.

A normal dog's digestive tract has bacteria that help the dog break down his food into absorbable components. The "good" bacteria allows for digestion of the food and proper absorption of the nutrients.

An imbalance in the "good" vs. "bad" bacteria can create problems. Not enough good bacteria or too many bad bacteria can change this process, thus altering the absorption of food and the overall health of the dog.

Prebiotics have demonstrated that they work to maximize the good bacteria AND have positive effects on immune system function, intestinal regularity and mineral absorption, including calcium. In humans, prebiotics have even demonstrated a reduction in the risk for colon cancer and irritable bowel disorders such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Eukanuba was the first pet food company to include prebiotics in pet food. Prebiotics can now be found in most of Eukanuba's product lines.

So now you know. If you see " prebiotics" on the bag, you now know that they will help maintain the right balance between good and bad bacteria to aid digestion and absorption of nutrients while encouraging strong defenses with a healthy immune system.

Encouraging good digestive tract health through good nutrition can strengthen your dog's immune system, which strengthens his defenses against harmful diseases. Promoting good digestive health encourages overall health.

P.S. Eukanuba is offering a $5.00 coupon to try their foods. To learn more about these foods or to get your coupon now, go to: http://www.eukanuba.com/EukGlobal/US/en/jsp/hercules/HerculesLanding.jsp

Cool Video

Check out this cool new video designed by our UK partners, Swanky Pets Boutique! 

Today's Featured Print: Gingerbread Man!

Are you looking for a charming holiday collar? If you like to celebrate the holidays with your pet, you'll love today's featured print: Gingerbread Man! 

This print features a beige background with lots of adorable tiny gingerbread men - perfectly decorated for the holiday season. 

Today we are offering 20% off all orders for this print through midnight tonight. Order yours now! 

Why Dogs Shed and What You Can Do to Stop It

I saw this article on PetPlace.com and it really hit home for me. My chihuahua, Merlot has the coat of a German Shepard even though she only weighs 5 lbs and she sheds worse than any dog I've ever had! It is a constant battle between bathing, brushing and even using the lint roller to remove the excess loose fur. After reading this article, I know what is on my Christmas list:

Dog lovers commonly ask (as they pick some hair off their clothes), "Why do dogs shed? Is there a shedding season?"

I'll answer those questions now.

Shedding is a continuous process. This is a normal event in the life of a dog and it is largely influenced by daylight.

There is a word for this phenomenon: photoperiod. The number of hours a dog is exposed to sunlight in a day (photoperiod) triggers the shedding process.

It is more noticeable in outdoor dogs in the spring and fall. Indoor dogs shed more consistently but in lesser amounts because of the artificial light inside the house.

Dogs tend to have heavier coats in the winter months than they do in the summer.

Stress and illness can cause excessive shedding. A chronically ill dog that is shedding may also suffer skin lesions, as well as scaling and thin and abnormally wrinkled skin.

Providing your dog is just a normal shedding dog, here are some tips:

What can you do about shedding?

1. The first thing you can do is to reduce the amount of hair in your home by brushing or combing your dog on a daily basis. This will help more than anything to reduce shedding. You are basically controlling the shedding.

2. Feed your dog a good quality dog food. Don't skimp. Stick with one of the premium brands.

3. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Healthy bodies promote a healthy haircoat.

4. Don't let your dog get fat. Keep your dog at an ideal weight. Obese dogs have difficulty grooming.

Dogs shed. Nothing will change that. But regular grooming will make the biggest difference. Brushing helps, but I found something that's even better. It's called the Bissell ShedAway.

My staff and I really love this product. Instead of brushing, you can easily vacuum away the dead hair on your dog with this simple attachment. You simply hook it to your vacuum cleaner and brush your dog with it. It easily removes the hair and dander from your dog's undercoat. And you will be AMAZED to see how much hair it actually removes.

The best part is, all that hair goes directly into your vacuum cleaner ... not all over your clothes, floors and furniture. So with the Bissell ShedAway, there's no need to clean up after grooming your dog. It captures all that hair, which means there will be less hair in your home ... and on you!

If dog hair is a problem for you (as it is for most dog owners), you should really see the Bissell ShedAway in action. Watch this video of a dog being brushed with the ShedAway ... you'll be amazed! To watch this short video click on the image below, or go to: Bissell ShedAway

Pet Amber Alert from Dogster - Now Free!

At Dogster we want all pets to be where they belong - at home with their loving familes. And, if they ever get lost, we want them to get home fast and safe. That is why we created Together Tag, a pet ID registry and "Amber alert" network for lost pets. In our mission to protect all pets, we are happy to announce today that the core service of Together Tag is now FREE.

Dogster moms and dads, please protect your dogs today. The service is free and many loved dogs have already been found.

Free Benefits:
Nationwide Lost Pet "Amber" Alerts - Messages are sent to geo-targeted community members and shelters
Lost Pet Tools - Including our poster-making tool, preventative and emergency checklists
Multiple Contacts - Securely store your pet's profile on our database with multiple contacts, photos, health and vet info
Permanent Together Tag ID# - Can be used on your own tag or you can choose to purchase one of ours

Sign up here

10 Things to Hide from your Pet this Thanksgiving

We all know how hard it can be to resist those begging eyes and that furry face you can deny nothing on any given day, and on Thanksgiving – with the fragrant smell of that really rich dinner swimming throughout the house – the temptation can be that much worse. But this year, do your dog a favor and keep her away from the items listed below. Pookie Dearest might be miffed for the evening, but her stomach will thank you the next day.

1. Turkey Skin – On its own, turkey skin can be fatty and hard to digest, but on Thanksgiving it’s particularly bad (just think of the butter, oils and spices rubbed into it). If you must share the turkey with your dog, do peel the skin off and cut the meat up into bite-sized pieces. And consider choosing the white meat over the dark for your pooch – it’s a little blander and easier to digest.

2. Cooked Bones - Whether your bird is duck, goose or turkey, do not give the bones to your dog. Any dog cartoon features Fido carrying a bone around in his mouth, but the reality is that a cooked bone is often brittle and sharp pieces can get lodged in your pet’s intestine. And bird bones are hollow and break easily.

3. Gravy/Buttery Side Dishes - This one goes hand-in-hand with the turkey skin. Fatty foods and trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs at worst and diarrhea or vomiting at “best.” ThePoop.com suggests substituting gravy with a little turkey broth if you really want to give your pup a treat.

4. Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap – Dispose of these when you’re done with them. There are two risks here: one, your pet will be licking the fatty substances off the wrappings, and two, swallowing these can cause an intestinal obstruction.

5. Chocolate - Not that we think that you would intentionally feed your dog chocolate (which we all know can be toxic to our canine friends), but since candy is often left out on tables for guests during the holidays, it made the list. Be sure to keep bowls filled with chocolate out of reach.

6. The Garbage Pail – A frustrated pet who can’t get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig around the trash bin and find a good number of the items listed above.

7. The Kitchen – Thanksgiving can be the busiest day of the year for the kitchen, and you’ll want to keep your pup out of there. With hot dishes being whisked from one counter to the next, there’s a chance a dog that’s under foot could be burned or cut if something were to shatter.

8. Holiday Plants – Sure it’s Thanksgiving, but a good number of people have already decked the halls with holly by this time. Know that Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are toxic to dogs.

9. Decorations – Glass ornaments and candles are just begging for trouble. Like the chocolate, keep these out of reach.

10. Guests Who Mean Well – Educate your less pet-savvy visitors (and hey, maybe even send them this list). A child may accidentally feed a dog some chocolate and your great aunt might think she’s being nice by sharing her turkey skin.

Participate in our Facebook Poll

We would like to hear from you!

We've posted a poll on our Facebook page to ask what new product lines you'd like to see introduced to swankypet.net in the near future.

Among those under consideration:

Fashionable retractable leashes
Pet beds or slip covers in the same prints to match the collars, harnesses & leads available on the site
Contemporary designs in pet bowls and pet feeders
Creatively designed pet beds or pet furniture

As always if you have a suggestion, please email us: customerservice@swankypet.net

Meet SwankyPet, Daisy!

This little cutie is Daisy who looks adorable in her She Loves Me collar and lead set. Mom, Kathy tells us:

"We acquired Daisy recently after losing our beloved Rottweiler, Bindi a couple of months ago. Daisy is helping us to enjoy life again and feel happy to come home. She looks precious in her new daisy themed leash and we love the quality, too!

She is about 12 weeks old and has very long legs and a shiny coat. Like any puppy, she loves to chew and taste just about anything. She really enjoys biting our golden retriever's tail. Sometimes she gets bits of his hair stuck on her chin, making her look like she has a beard a-la- ZZ-Top! It is funny."

Kathy - thank you so much for sending in Daisy's photo! She is so cute! For submitting Daisy's photo, Kathy is entered into our drawing for a FREE collar. We hold drawings 2-3 times per month, so send in your pet's photo (in their new 'swanky'wear) for your chance to win! 

Photo Contest Winner

We have a winner! Little Derby dressed as an Organ Grinder Monkey. Thank you to mom, Ann Marie for sending in this adorable photo! For winning you receive a collar of your choice! 

We also want to thank everyone who submitted Pet Halloween photos and they will receive 20% off their next order. 

Today's Featured Print: Deck the Halls!

Our featured print today is Deck the Halls, from our Christmas Collection. 

This print features a pale green background with several colorful ornaments in a variety of colors which will have you in the holiday mood in no time at all! It is available for collars, harnesses & leads in a variety of sizes. We can even accommodate your custom-size order. 

All items are made with top-quality materials to create an excellent quality collar, harness or lead for your best friend. All items are constructed with four layers of fabric and are lined with lightweight nylon webbing for structure and durability. 

Top-quality metal hardware comes standard: contoured zinc die cast side release buckles, slip lock buckles, cast D-rings and nickel plate swivel snap hooks. 

If you prefer a more lightweight collar or harness, your item can be made with a top-quality contoured acetal side-release buckle instead. (shown above)

Halloween Photo Contest

Post your cutest (or spookiest) Halloween photos of your pet on our Facebook Fan page. We are holding a photo contest today (11/1) through midnight Nov 4th. The winner will be announced on Nov 5th and will receive a collar of their choice. 

Today's Featured Print: Candy Cane!

Our featured print today will definitely get you in the holiday mood.....Candy Cane! 

This festive print features a green background with red and white candy cane stripes. The perfect sweet treat for your pet! 

Candy Cane is available for collars, harnesses & leads - all made-to-order so you can get exactly what you want for your pet. 

All orders for this print will be 15% off through midnight Sunday (11/1, pacific). So, start off the holidays wish some fun & festive swankywear! 

Christmas Pet Collars

If you're looking for Christmas Dog Collars, check out our Holiday Collection! Twelve fun and festive prints available for collars, harnesses & leads - all made to order, so you can get exactly what you want for your pet! 

Choose from: Candy Canes, Snowflakes, Christmas Trees, Snowmen, Gingerbread Men, Holly and even gift-wrapped dog bones!

All of our items are constructed with four layers of fabric with lightweight nylon webbing inside for structure and durability while remaining soft & flexible. Top-quality metal hardware is included: contoured zinc die cast side release buckles, durable slip lock buckles, cast D-rings and heavy nickel plate swivel snap hooks. If you prefer a more lightweight collar or harness, your item can be made with a top-quality contoured acetal side-release buckle instead (black, white or pink). 

These holiday pet collars are the perfect way for your furry friend to celebrate the holidays along with the rest of the family! 

Today's Featured Print: Ba Humbug!

Today, our featured print is Ba Humbug! - the perfect print for any Furry Scrooge! All orders for this print are 15% off through midnight tonight (10/29, pacific).

This print features a cheery bright red background with bright white lettering and comes standard with high-quality metal hardware. If you prefer a lighter-weight item, we offer plastic buckles in black and white.

This fun & festive print is available for collars, harnesses & leashes. So don't delay - order yours today!

Today's Featured Print: All I Want for Christmas!

It's only 3 days until Halloween, but we're already getting ready for the Christmas season! 

Today, our featured print is All I Want for Christmas - sure to be on every 'swanky' pet's wish list! All orders for this print are 15% off through midnight tonight (10/28). 

Set against a burgundy background, little doggie bones are gift-wrapped with green and yellow bows! This festive print will turn heads everywhere you and your pet go and will definitely put your furry friend in the holiday spirit. 

Adorable Halloween Pet Videos

Enjoy these funny Halloween pet videos from PetPlace! 

Today's featured Print: Autumn Hues!

Today's featured print is Autumn Hues. Beautiful fall colors of gold, red and brown available for collars, harnesses & leads! 

We are offering 15% off all orders for this print through midnight tonight (pacific). Order yours now! 

This lovely lady is Cookie from Humble, TX. Mom, Diane writes about Cookie: 

"Cookie was special from the day we brought her home. She could learn any trick in 15 minutes, and at 8 years old, she still has never forgotten any of them. She likes to help bring groceries in, opens the fridge for me, and will take items to different members of the household. If she can carry it, you can tell her who it needs to go to, and she's on her way. Cookie runs out and gets the newspaper every morning. She likes to play catch, where you throw a ball to her and she will throw it back with either her mouth, her paw or whatever it takes. My son and daughter taught her lots of cute tricks over the years, proving an old dog definitely can learn new tricks. She is definitely ONE SMART COOKIE!

Cookie has been the helper dog when we have had other dogs that have joined our family. Her brother Dewey, another black lab, was a very troubled 1 year old when we brought him home. It took a year and a half till he wagged his tail. She has put up with a lot of upsetting behavior, but her stability has really helped. He's great now! She also has been patient dealing with my daughters dog Beau, who as a puppy drove her crazy. She helped teach him how to behave too. Beau is a wonderfully behaved lab cross, and we love his visits.

However, the Diva side of Cookie comes out with her refusing to do anything she doesn't want to do! Cookie has recently overcome cancer, and rather enjoyed the extra spoiling. It is now expected. She sits and glares at me, waiting to be hand fed her food. She stands over her water bowl to show me she would like a fresh bowl. Old water is unacceptable. Her Dad takes her on errands, on Saturday morning, and gets her a breakfast burrito. She proudly sits in the front seat of her truck, happy as can be. Of course she gives so much to us that we all indulge our little Diva.

Cookie is clearly delighted with a new collar or bandana. She loves to dress up and be adored. She absolutely struts! My daughter, who is off at college, sent me the swankypet.net site and we were excited! The "If the Shoe Fits" collar was the perfect collar for our little Diva!

Thank you swankypet.net! What a great concept!" 

Today's featured Print: Fall Leaves!

Today we are featuring a print from our Seasonal Collection --- Fall Leaves! 

This beautiful print features an ivory background with lovely fall leaves in shades of gold and brown. This stylish print will put you in the mood for fall! 

All orders for Fall Leaves items receive a 15% discount, through midnight tonight (10/22), so don't delay - order yours now! 

Meet SwankyPet, Pepper!

This adorable miniature schnauzer is Pepper of Salisbury, NC .

Mom, Lisa tells us: "We recently adopted her from the North Carolina Schnauzer Rescue. She is 7 years old and was dropped off by her family in a kill shelter. Luckily the shelter called the Rescue association and she was in a foster family until we adopted her last week.

Now she is a beautiful part of our family with a brand new Candy Corn harness! And secretly I know she is just waiting to see what new collar Santa brings!"

What a sweet little face - you know she's is happy and grateful to have a wonderful home! Happy Halloween, Pepper! 

Is Your Dog Afraid of Halloween?

Is your dog afraid of Halloween? Many dogs are. Why? We've got the answers right here, straight from the mouths of the dogs themselves.

The noises can frighten them to the point that they run away or bite. I've seen dogs with no history of aggression bite when frightened on Halloween. All the scary costumes and screaming can be too much for them (it can be too much for me sometimes, too).

So keep your dog safe this Halloween. I want to warn you about some of the things dogs hate about this "creepy" holiday. Here they are, spoken from the mouth of a dog!

Doorbells - "That darn doorbell rings and rings. My owners answer it and then it rings again. I get excited, I bark and they yell at me. I don't get it."



Scary Costumes - "Ugly, evil-looking things come to the door, and for some strange reason my owners smile and give them things. I don't know what they get, but I'm sure it's tasty. The whole ritual is scary and just plain weird. Why do they do that? If I did something like that they would haul me off to the "funny farm"."



Screaming Kids - "As if the noise and the costumes aren't bad enough, there are all those screaming kids to contend with. Screaming children chanting little rhymes that only a mother could love. Like I said, I just don't get it."

No Treats for Me - "On top of it all, there is an abundance of candy going from hand to hand ... chocolate, candy bars and goodies that make a real dog drool. But I don't get any. None. Stingy people."

They Ignore ME - "There I am - barking and doing my dog thing - but no one pays any attention to me. I try to join in on the fun but they keep telling me to go away. With all these new people here at this Halloween party, a dog has lots of important sniffing to do. I need to get to know these people to make sure they are safe for my family to be around."

Weird Music and Sounds - "People play the most ridiculous music - it makes me want to howl."

Jack-O-Lanterns and Candles - "There are weird shadows on the walls and an eerie ambiance of ghostliness ... it would not surprise me if Casper came flying out of the wall and said "boo"!"

So keep in mind the things dogs hate about this holiday and try to minimize your dog's exposure.

Top 10 Pet-Safe Vehicles

These days, more pets than ever are traveling in vehicles; unfortunately, though, most drivers aren't taking the steps necessary to ensure that this travel is safe both for them and their pets. Most of these animals ride unrestrained, increasing the risk of pet injury or fatality during an accident. The animals aren't the only ones at risk: If you have an accident at 35 mph while toting your 60-pound unrestrained dog, your pet is capable of causing an impact of up to 2,700 pounds, slamming into the seat, the windshield, or even a passenger. If your unrestrained pet survives the crash, Fido or Fifi may impede or slow the progress of rescue workers, who'll need to secure the traumatized animal before treating human victims.

Bark Buckle Up is committed to informing pet owners about the dangers of unrestrained pet travel. The organization tracks in-depth statistics regarding pet safety, and works with police and fire departments as well as the general public to promote safe pet travel. As part of its Pet Safety Program, Bark Buckle Up and Edmunds.com have collaborated to determine the 10 vehicles whose features make them best suited for transporting you and your animal companion in safety. The top choices are listed below, in alphabetical order.

Dodge Journey: To ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and pets, all gear should be secure when driving, and the Journey offers in-floor storage bins that elegantly achieve this objective. Sadly, many pets are injured by drivers who unknowingly run them over while reversing — the Journey offers a rearview camera that helps drivers avoid this tragedy. Other available features include an in-dash cooler that can be used to store beverages, medicine or pet food; an LED rechargeable flashlight; and steering-wheel-mounted controls (useful in lessening driver distraction).

Ford Flex: Larger dogs and their crates will be comfortable in the roomy Flex; the crossover offers ample legroom and wide door openings for easy ingress and egress. Other pluses include a refrigerated console and five-star crash test scores.

GMC Acadia: Tri-zone climate control is available in the Acadia. This feature is important in SUVs, station wagons and minivans; it helps monitor temperature in the rear of the vehicle, thus ensuring that pets secured in back aren't exposed to extreme heat. The Acadia also offers a direct link to poison control via its OnStar feature (many animals are injured each year from ingesting potential pet poisons like antifreeze, chocolate and tea), along with rear fold-flat seats that accommodate travel for larger pets and their crates.

Hyundai Tucson: Turn to the Tucson for pet-safe available features like automatic climate control and fold-flat rear seats. This Hyundai also offers remote keyless entry (helpful if your hands are full managing a dog on a leash) as well as privacy glass that helps keep temperatures cool in back.

Jeep Liberty: The Jeep brand offers specialized pet travel gear, including crates, carriers and a ramp. The ramp is useful for larger dogs, as well as older and/or arthritic pets. This gear may be used with the Liberty and all vehicles in the Jeep lineup. Other useful Liberty features include a split-folding rear seat and available keyless entry.

Kia Borrego: Full-length side curtain airbags with rollover sensors can keep both pets and their owners safe, and they're offered in the Borrego. The SUV also offers a back-up warning system and rear camera display.

Mazda Mazda 5: Three words: sliding rear doors! The Mazda 5 offers easy-access dual sliding rear doors with a one-touch walk-in feature. These doors simplify pet access, and make it a breeze to secure them. The minivan is also notable for having earned five-star crash test scores and for having side curtain airbags in all three rows. Its low cargo floor facilitates easy pet access, and the Mazda 5 also has tethers and anchors in both the second and third rows — helpful since pet safety seats need to be secured in the same way as a child's.

Mitsubishi Outlander: Side airbags, five-star crash test ratings and steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls are all part of the Outlander's arsenal of available offerings. The SUV also boasts fold-flat seating and stowable third-row seats (both of which increase the amount of room available for larger pets), as well as more than a dozen storage compartments for your gear and your pet's.

Subaru Tribeca: Pet owners will appreciate the Tribeca's five-star crash test scores, steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls and rear back-up camera.

Volvo XC70: The XC70 is available with a Volvo-designed pet barrier. This is not a one-size-fits-all system with suction cups and Velcro — this is the real deal. Many pet barrier systems are not designed to remain in place during an accident; this system — crash tested by Volvo — has been created to remain intact in a collision. The barrier may be installed by the dealer, and is bolted securely into the vehicle. Another great feature is the XC70's blind spot warning system. A pet in back can sometimes impede visibility — as a result, any safety feature that helps with blind spots is a big plus.

Meet SwankyPet, Sgt. Pepper!

This is Sgt. Pepper, looking very stylish in his Yellow Submarine collar lives in Tulsa, OK. Mom, Kelli has a great story of how Sgt. Pepper came into their lives:

"I found Sgt. Pepper on July 4th of this year right after the fireworks. My fiance, my brother, and I were walking into a restaurant when Pepper approached us in the parking lot. He was timid, but extremely obedient. He followed us until we reached the door.

As my fiance and my brother entered the building he crouched into a small corner by the flower shop next door. For some reason I felt it wrong to leave him, but there was no place he could go on a holiday weekend to keep him out of traffic. I stayed outside with him for almost thirty minutes looking for some kind of tag or owner.

I convinced my brother, who is also our roommate, to let us keep him overnight until the humane society would be able to take him in. Expecting him to be an outdoor dog, I was surprised when the next day there were absolutely no accidents.

The humane society would not take him in immediately due to a full facility. As the days went by we realized just how special Pepper was. He was completely house broken and showed us some of the tricks he was trained to do. Pepper never barked or growled at anyone he was just too grateful to be off the streets. He warmed everyone's hearts. People kept telling us how intelligent he looked and how lucky we are to have such a great and well behaved dog. We decided that there would be no harm in keeping him and, no one claimed him after all of our attempts. We had grown so fond of him that as the days went by we were hoping no one would.

I then decided to take him into our local vet to bring him up to date on all vaccinations. This is when our vet told me that he has had heart worm for quite some time. This explained to us why Pepper would never eat much if anything. It has been such a struggle to watch, but in the four months we've had him his heart worm is almost gone and he is a completely different dog. He's happy, which our vet thinks is something he hasn't been in a long time. His mannerisms in the beginning proved that he was possibly mistreated. Pepper is more than just a stray dog that we felt bad for, he's now the completion to my family."

Facebook Fan Appreciation Day!

Today we are saying "thank you" to our Facebook Fans by offering FREE SHIPPING (10/14) on all orders received through midnight Pacific time. 

To take advantage of this offer, please enter "Facebook" during the check-out process where asked 'how did you hear about swankypet.net?' and you will receive a credit on your shipping cost! 

Harmful things your dog should not chew

Interesting article from Dr Jon at PetPlace.com:

Chewing is often a perfectly normal behavior among our beloved canine friends, but there are certain items that just aren't made for chewing ... some are off limits because they are our personal belongings and we don't want them to be destroyed, but some items are off limits because they can be harmful to the dog.

Protect your dog from chewing dangers both outside and inside the home. Here's a list of things you should prevent your dog from chewing on:

Items that can grind away his teeth
Rocks
Wires
Recreational balls meant for people
Any chew item that cannot bend
Items that can cause splinters
Wooden sticks & toys
Cooked & uncooked bones
Items that can easily be swallowed whole and block the intestinal tract
Clothing, socks, gloves
Washcloths
String and ribbon
Rubber bands
Children's toys (Legos, dolls, etc.)
Toys meant for other pets (Cats, hamsters, etc.)
Toys that are too small or toys that are inappropriate for the dog's size
Items with small/dangerous pieces that can be chewed off & ingested
Shoes
Slippers
Handbags
Items that can release toxins or items preserved with poisonous arsenic
Cheap plastic toys

The best thing your dog CAN play with is a durable toy made especially for dogs. One of the toughest toys I've come across is the Tuffy Ultimate Ring Toy - made with 2 layers of industrial strength luggage material and soft fleece on the outside, all sewn together with triple stitching. I love it and so do many other vets. It's great to use interactively with your dog, like a Frisbee. And because it has soft edges, it won't hurt your dog's gums when he bites it. It can even float, so it can be used on land or water. No toy is indestructible, but this one is really tough! 

Do You Know What Your Dog is Thinking?

Decoding the canine mind has long been a pastime for dog owners - we've been trying to figure out what those looks and gestures mean furever. A recent Time Magazine article discusses the evolution of dogs and how their minds work. Explore the subject with Dr. Barchas and let us know what your dog is thinking!

Pet Fashion Week NY going to Brazil

In a continuing effort to create new and innovative opportunities within the global pet market, the producers of Pet Fashion Week NY are pleased to announce that they are leading the way once again. In April 2010 Pet Fashion Week NY along with Aktuell Communications, will be hosting a first of its kind pet industry trade event in Sao Paulo City.

Brazil is the fastest growing pet market in the world, and is expected to be second only to the U.S. in annual sales within the next couple of years. Currently the U.S. pet market is approximately 42 billion dollars a year with Japan second and Brazil running a close third and expected to overtake Japan in the very near future.

Aktuell is the leading agency regarding integrated marketing services in Brazil and is responsible for producing the world’s top equestrian event, the Athina Onassis International Horse Show. The event is visited by horse lovers and riders from across the globe and is annually one of the top grossing events in Brazil.

For the first ever Pet Fashion Week event in Latin America, Aktuell would incorporate the look and feel of PFW’s highly successful NYC event in a uniquely South American setting. The branding elements will be that of the familiar Pet Fashion Week NY although the marketing and development of the event would be a pure partnership.

The promotion of the event itself would be that of Pet Fashion Week New York - Brazilian Edition. The thought process being that the well established PFW brand would attract vendors and retailers from both the U.S. market as well as the global pet market.

Meet SwankyPet, Charlie!

This cute little pup is Charlie from New Prague, MN sporting his new spooky Batty collar.

Mom, Holly tells me: "I just wanted to share pictures of Charlie, a puggle, in his new swanky wear. Charlie is 2 years old an he can count to six and he loves to be naughty and "dance" on the table when he thinks we aren't looking. He also loves to get new Swanky Pet collars."

What a sweet little face! Thanks for sending in a photo of Charlie. Looks like he is ready to go trick-or-treating! Or count out up to six pieces of candy for Trick-or-Treaters! 

'Sweet' review from pamperedpuppy.com!

What a great review from Pampered Puppy: 

Halloween Dog Collar from Swanky Pet

Dog Collars Review - A Merryvaluation
by Angie McKaig

We love Halloween around here. Basically, we love the chance to dress up any time, any where, any how - and if it means playing a character, so much the better. (Merry SO has the acting bug. She'd love to appear in a feature film. I think she just wants it for the dressing room (luxurious, natch) and all the organic treats she wants between takes.)
But the iconography of Halloween is all part of the fun: bats. Witches. Pumpkins. Candy corn!

Pugs can't eat candy corn, of course (well, they could, but they'd be running around the house for hours afterwards on a sugar high, and it's not pretty, trust me). Luckily, that's no longer a problem with the Halloween-themed collar and leash set from Swanky Pet.

The collar is a simply fabulous 1/2" black cotton print festooned with candy corn in the traditional white, yellow and orange stripes. The hardware is solid and well made: a contoured zinc die cast side release buckle gives it heft and makes it look a little smoother, a little sweeter than collars with the thick black plastic easy release buckles you so often see in fabric collars. The slip lock buckles and D ring are both the same solid silver metal.

The construction of the collar itself is a cut above what you'll often see in casual ribbon or fabric dog collars. Every product is constructed with four layers of fabric that completely encircle a lightweight nylon webbing - which adds structure and durability, but you never have to see the nylon, it's completely covered. (I really like that part - sometimes it's nice to NOT have nylon visible on the collar, you know?)

The lead is a really interesting design. Also 1/2 inch wide (both collar and leash come wider in the larger sizes), it comes doubled up with a slip lock, so that it's extensible from 2.5 feet in length (completely doubled) or let out to a full 5 feet in length. I LOVE this feature and it's by far my favorite part of Swanky Pet products. How many times do you need a shorter length - walking through large crowds, walking on narrow sidewalks - and you're forced to grab a big long length of leash or wrap it around your hand several times? With this, you can simply shorten it for times you need it shorter, and let it out to the full five feet when you want a normal, up on the grass walking experience.
Since Merry is mostly blind, this little feature is a lifesaver: there are a lot of times that we need her on a shorter leash.

The other thing I loved about the Candy Corn design is that it allows your pet to be festive and seasonal without wearing a costume - now, Merry will be wearing a multitude of costumes for Halloween, but not every dog loves his or her dress up times. If that's your pooch, this collar's a great compromise.

We were really impressed by Swanky Pet's designs, and can't wait to see what they come up with next!
You can find out more about Swanky Pet from their web site at www.swankypet.net. Tell them Merry sent you!

Today's Featured Print: Candy Corn!

We have a new Candy Corn print and today we're offering 15% off any orders! Get your furry little goblin ready for Halloween! 

Pilots take to the skies to help save dogs, cats

Who: Retired United Airlines pilot Denis Darida, 66, of Grayslake transports rescued animals through Pilots N Paws, a nonprofit online resource connecting pilots with rescue organizations.

What he does: Darida recently took four dogs and two cats during two flights from southern Illinois to the St. Francis Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), a no-kill shelter in Kenosha.

The animals "were very good, no accidents," said Darida, who has a new interior in his Cessna 182 Skyline four-seat single engine airplane. "Once we start up the engine, they calm down right away. Today the animals went into the crates so easily, I think they spend too much of their lives in crates."

Darida also recently flew to Owensboro, Ky., to rescue three dogs for another shelter in Milwaukee.

"I'm always looking for a reason to fly and it's fun," he said. "It makes you feel good too."

Whom he does it for: Pilots N Paws was born in February 2008, when Debi Boies of Landrum, SC, and her husband were looking for someone to transport their 4-year-old adopted Doberman from Florida. Friend, pilot and Pilots N Paws co-founder Jon Wehrenberg of Knoxville, Tenn., offered to help.

"It was the most generous thing I'd ever heard," Boies said.

Flying is much easier on the animals, Boies said, than traveling by car. "It's very stressful for the animals, particularly those with medical needs, senior dogs or amputee dogs," she said.

Many animals are rescued from shelters in the South, where spaying and neutering are not common practices. But most shelters, including those in the Midwest, euthanize animals if they are not adopted, said Cindy Schultz, executive director of St. Francis SPCA.

"We take the ones nobody wants," Schultz said. "We're short on space right now, but we do not euthanize unless the dog is terminally ill, to stop any suffering."

Volunteers and staff members walk the animals every day, but because the shelter has 40 more dogs than its capacity of 100, the dogs must stay in cages. Plans are under way to build a kennel, where dogs will have more room with an inside cage and a door to the outside where they can come and go, as well as a play area.

How you can help: Pilots interested in volunteering to transport rescued animals can find organizations in their area at pilotsnpaws.org. Expenses are tax-deductible. To volunteer at or donate to the St. Francis SPCA shelter in Kenosha, call 262-242-3824 or 262-242-1587. For information on adopting a pet, visit petfinder.com/shelters/WI147.html. Homeowners facing foreclosure can find information on what to do with their pets at foreclosurepets.org.