PetSugar

Do You Use Conditioner?

PetSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:45:27 -0700

I've been a fan of Buddy Wash forever . . . it's the very first shampoo I used on North! Its soap-free coconut base with skin soothing aloe vera (and just a tiny hint of lavender and mint) leaves my pooch super clean and not smelling too sweet.

They also offer a Buddy Rinse conditioning counterpart with the same essence as the shampoo, and I'm thinking of giving it a try. I mean I use conditioner, right? There are even more vitamins and oils in this product to soften, shine, and detangle my pet's coat. What do you think?

Has Anyone Tried the New Everyday Isle of Dogs Line?

PetSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:12 -0800

What's better than an endorsement from one of you? This post comes to us from the Street Team group from member Delilah02.

Hello everyone, I have a Yorkiepoo and I have tried Isle of Dogs couture shampoos and conditioners in the past and loved them. I recently was at Petco in New York where we live and saw they have a new Everyday line and new treats and was wondering if anyone else tried them yet? I found Isle of Dogs on Facebook and, from what I read, people seem to be loving the new stuff. I did ask for a catalog on Facebook and some samples come with it, I guess. I am just wonder if anyone else has tried the stuff and if they like it?

There's lots of fun stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups and maybe we'll feature it here on PetSugar!

Brilliant or Baffling? The Dog Wash/Car Wash Hybrid

PetSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:46:56 -0700

When a pal mentioned the story of a dog and car washing combo, I envisioned a terrified North strapped "in neutral" to some rolling tracks! After checking out the full story, it makes a lot more sense. Much like self-service dog washing stores, one creative Pa. business owner combined a car wash with a dog wash.
Costing $8 for 10 minutes, a powerful jet sprays oatmeal shampoo before conditioner, then a temperature-controlled rinse, pet appropriate blow dry heat, and comb out time. You can use as much product as you'd like . . . but you'll pay a buck more for each additional minute and 25 seconds. Even if you forget something, there's a vending machine for all your last minute needs (combs, towels, etc) and then you can hop back in and wash your car while your clean pet waits patiently nearby! I love the idea of one-stop shopping – well, if I washed my own car – but what you do you think?

Staff Photographer: April Saul

Booster Bath: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:15:01 -0800

Space may be at a minimum in my current home, but the Booster Dog Bath ($190) still looks pretty sweet. After all, when giving my pet a bath in the tub or sink, the excess water he shakes leaves more than just me and the surrounding floor area wet. This can be hooked up indoors or out and already has a spot for shampoo and conditioner (plus holds up to 250 pounds if you need to climb in, too) – Is there a spot for it in your heart?

Greatest American Dog: Brandy Tells All to PetSugar!

PetSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:15:47 -0700

Last week's episode of the Greatest American Dog saw Brandy and her Miniature Schnauzer, Beacon, leave the house. I had the chance to speak with Brandy about her time on the show, plus her plans now that she's home again, and I can't wait to share it all with you! Was Beacon really sad in the end? How about any drama behind-the-scenes? Read on and see!

PetSugar: So, I'll assume you're watching, how is Beacon's personality different on camera?
Brandy: Oh yeah, it's insane. My poor dog looks like the dumbest dog on the show. She's so smart, she's so cute, she did almost everything I asked her to but the editing doesn't really look like it at all. I definitely realized how much eye contact she makes with me and hadn't ever noticed it until I looked back. She looks up at me, waits for my command, and I just think she's the most precious thing ever. If anything, this is a really good home video of me and my dog that I can watch forever.

PetSugar: Did she have any special friends?
Brandy: She loved Elvis and she loved Presley. Those were her favorites. I don't know if it was because she had a crush on them, but she loved to play with those two.

PetSugar: And you?
Brandy: Travis and J.D. were definitely my favorites – they were fun. J.D. has a bad rap but he's really a good guy – he's just a little too experienced for the show. Those two guys were cool, country guys and it was fun hanging out with both of them.

PetSugar: Is there anything you hoped to see make it on air that hasn't?
Brandy: I was hoping to see more of Beacon doing things and the dogs interacting with each other because that's the whole reason we went on the show – I'd like to see more of her and less of me.

PetSugar: Were there any cute moments that pop into your head?
Brandy: I think Beacon hanging out with other dogs in general, especially Presley. If Travis would throw the Frisbee, Beacon and Presley would catch the Frisbee together. They never showed that and it was the cutest thing ever. Of course, Elvis did bite a few dogs or whatever, but Elvis and Beacon got along so well. Hmm, all the dogs swimming . . . that was adorable. Because we're all dog lovers, even though we're in a competition, watching all our dogs interact with each other was like watching toddlers who didn't know each other and that was so much fun. Our dogs brought us here and now our dogs are friends – it's awesome and that's the main thing I miss.

PetSugar: Have your training methods changed since participating on the show?
Brandy: When we're doing training at home, I always talk to her like a little baby. That's how I've always talked to her. Here, the very first competition was musical chairs and I knew it was a competition, so I was like 'Beacon, go' and she freaked out because I don't talk to her in a demanding voice like that ever. So I think I learned to keep the same mellow tone with training or talking and she'll respond more; I can't get too hyper, excited, angry, it has to have a tone that dogs can listen to without getting nervous. She doesn't respond to that other voice like 'You're going to talk to me like that, well then forget you.'"

PetSugar: I know! She was being so naughty, ignoring you on the last episode!
Brandy: She yawned! It was like 'are you kidding me, I'm your mother. Don't yawn at me when I'm trying to talk to you!' She was being so bad, I don't know why she did that. She wanted to go home, that's all I can say. She was done and wanted to leave.

I'd have to say that the editing of the episode did imply that Beacon wanted to go home . . . and what's happening now that they are home? See the rest of the interview and learn about Beacon's wardrobe and Brandy's wedding when you read more.

PetSugar: Have your opinions on dogs in clothes changed?
Brandy: Well my fiancé says she has more clothes than me. I think that when I have a child, I'm going to go broke. I don't know why I just love her wearing clothes. Believe it or not, I actually stopped buying her clothes after I went on the show. I feel really bad about a lot of the things the judges said to me or other people about dressing dogs and so, for now, I'm gonna stop buying clothes – she's totally being dressed at my wedding – but maybe I'll let her be a dog for a little while instead of a little model.

PetSugar: Was it hard to find clothes that fit her?
Brandy: Oh no, I find clothes for her everywhere. She's 20 pounds but we actually have the right size for her so my fiancé's mom and I could start making clothes to fit just her. There's actually a good selection if you go to Wal-Mart, (I love Wal-Mart cause I'm from the South) – they have a dog line, Lulu Pink, and tons of pet stuff. I know people like shopping at Target, but I think Wal-Mart has a better selection actually.

PetSugar: Are you still planning on involving animals in your wedding ceremony?
Brandy: Oh, of course. We're focusing on her outfit to match the bridesmaids' dresses and what she's going to do. She's walking down the aisle with flowers on the back of her dress. She's going to be the ring bearer of course as well, so on top of the flowers she's going to have the ring. We're also thinking about having a 'bone appetit' for the dogs that come at their table. We're actually doing a little set up for each little dog, we're going to have a photo shoot, and have bone appetit for them to eat, it's going to be so awesome.

PetSugar: So now that it's done, are you happy you participated?
Brandy: In the end, Beacon, who is a daddy's girl, for the show we had to bond more. Instead of just being the nurturing mother I became the fun mother, too, which she never had because my fiancé would always play with her and do all the fun stuff. So we walked away with a greater bond. And, after 45 days apart, I came back and I actually got a ring, and got engaged. He missed me so much, he was like 'let's stop talking about it, let's really get the ring' so I think that alone was enough to go on the entire show. Because we missed each other that much and he knew that he always wanted Beacon and me in his life . . . the knowing that we never wanted to be apart.

Awww, well even though Brandy and Beacon didn't win big (but did keep some swag like a Chrome Bones bed, Natural Balance dog food, and enough Nature's Specialties shampoo and conditioners to last forever), I'm glad that their full family is reunited once again! Don't forget to tune in tonight at 8 p.m. to the latest episode of Greatest American Dog on CBS!

"Photos courtesy of CBS

Dog Days of Summer: Natural Ingredients to Help With Fleas

PetSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:00:24 -0700

If your pup is unlucky enough to have bites from these yucky blood suckers, make a switch to an eco-tastic shampoo to offer relief during the Summer months. If you're not up to making your own herbal flea powder, here's a couple ingredients to look for on the label of store brands (recommended by you in the comments!):

Aloe: One of the more obvious calming ingredients, aloe can be found in everything from gels to sprays. Pure Aloe Vera can sooth and cool your dog's itchy bites (and yours, too!) plus it won't hurt your pet if he licks it off. Some vets even recommend drops as a meal supplement as it can help to cure skin disorders and soothe stomach irritation internally as well.

See two more when you read more.

Oatmeal: In addition to being a yummy snack, oatmeal can be found in dog shampoos and conditioners because of its anti-itch properties in dealing with damaged, inflamed, or scaly skin. Aphrosette likes to use it for pups with mild skin allergies, too.
Tea Tree Oil: This essential oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the Tea Tree. It has many uses including soothing burns, bites, and cuts as well as being active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Ehadams even likes to use tea tree spray from the pet store to stop calm her pet and stop her from biting.

Check out my widget of products including these ingredients below.

Groomer Has It: And the Winner Is . . .

PetSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:30:19 -0700

In the final episode of Groomer Has It, the remaining two contestants, Jonathan and Artist, had to beautify one dog from each of the seven groups, in addition to these bonus "mutt magic" pooches seen below! Polar Bear, an adoro Westie/Eskimo pup, and Corey, the Dalmatian/Lhasa Apso mix, were the eighth and final dogs groomed as part of the competition. This week's quick tip was to pay attention to the type of dog you're working with and use appropriate techniques for each type of coat:

With long haired dogs, avoid vigorous scrubbing as to not tangle their hair and don't forget to use conditioner.
For shorter haired dogs, use a rubber brush in circular motions to remove excess undercoat in the wash.

With most of our votes, seems like many of us were rooting for Artist . . . but did he pull through to beat Jonathan, top dog from the very start? Find out in the video clip from the final announcement when you read more.

Pampered Pals: John Paul Pet by Paul Mitchell

PetSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:00:13 -0800

As much as I spend on my shampoo, I couldn't imagine scrimping on my lil guy! No matter how pricey your hair care products, they should never be used on a pup. Thankfully, for those of us who want names we recognize off the bat, the salon quality John Paul Pet is a perfect choice! By the same people who bring us Paul Mitchell products, this line is made especially for family members of the furrier persuasion, touted to be "tested on humans first", and Ph balanced to keep pets of all kinds healthy and clean. Shampoos, conditioners, and wipes start around $11, and come in handy for those unsightly eye stains we all talked about recently. Although not sold online, John Paul Pet products can be found at your local Petco, beauty and pet supply stores, and even at one of North's fave vacation spots – San Francisco's Wag Hotel.

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Juicy Giveaway Ends Monday!

PetSugar — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:00:01 -0800

The Juicy Crittoure giveaway is officially now over. A winner has been selected and will be announced this week. Thanks to everyone who participated!

PetSugar

Straight from my December must have list, PetSugar is giving away products from the new Juicy Crittoure line!

One lucky winner (and her pooch) will get the Doggy Jet Set ($80) and the Posh Pooch Set ($55), pictured above and full of pet products of people quality! The Posh Pooch Set contains doggie coif fur conditioner, shampooch, and a brush, and the Doggy Jet Set includes cleansing pawlettes, soft spot coat conditioning mist, dog pawfum, and a medallion "Best in Crittoure" plush toy. What a lucky pet!

To enter to win both fabulous prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post before 5 p.m. PST on Monday, Dec. 10. I'll pick one lucky winner at random from the comments we receive. Please, only ONE comment per person - duplicate comments will be discarded. Click here for Official Rules.

Don't forget to email this to friends and family who may be interested in winning, and be sure to check back to find out the winner. Kitty lovers, stay tuned for next week, because we have an awesome cat gift giveaway in store for you!

Petit Amande: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:00:40 -0800

Have you signed up for our Juicy Crittoure giveaway yet? That set includes many things to make your pooch smell extra sweet, including dog pawfum. I'm no stranger to giving North a spritzer of scented coat conditioner, but this 50ml bottle of 'Petit Amande' by London's Mungo & Maud Dog & Cat Outfitters costs more than my perfume. This premium Eau de Toilette for poochies starts at £38 a bottle – which is almost $80!
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