PetSugar

Do You Talk to Your Pet?

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:15:12 -0700

While I obviously know North can't help me decide what to eat for dinner, I still love the way he cocks his head to the side when I talk to him. Even though I sometimes chat him up, I can't say I have long, one-sided discussions with him . . . unlike Amanda Lorber on the MTV show, The Paper.

Don't you think her Westie, Gaby, has the most priceless expressions?! It's almost like the pooch is actually listening . . . but still, doesn't really care what's being said. However, it turns out she was actually speaking to her dog in order to not appear to be addressing the camera:

"I was always very hyperaware of the cameras being there," Lorber said. "I don't really talk to my dog all that much, that's so that I'm not looking directly at the camera. I didn't want to look like I was talking to myself, so we figured out I could talk to my dog."

How about you – do you chat it up with your pet even if no cameras are rolling?

Protect Toilet Paper From Nosy Paws!

PetSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:00:57 -0700

Pets get into the darnedest things! From the valuables coming with electrical cords to the unmentionables in the trash, having a furry friend in your home means always being out the lookout with pet-proofed spaces. There are many dogs and cats that love to unroll paper towels or toilet paper (like our POTD B-Bop), and lilsugar told me about a great product to keep your TP safe from baby hands . . . that works just great for puppy paws and kitty claws, too! Find out what it is when you read more.

This neat product is the TP Saver 2 Pack ($5.97). Just slide the tube into the roll and attach the plug end into it to hold down the top sheet and save your roll. You can even add it after the toilet paper is on the holder so it's easy to detach and reattach when you need to use it.

At the Movies: Hole in the Paper Sky

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:00:07 -0700

I've already mentioned another film on a controversial topic making its way around the festival circuit, and here is another: now it's animal testing. But this isn't a documentary showing you disturbing secret footage shot guerrilla style about things that go on behind closed doors. This film is brought to you by Jessica Biel, one of my favorite dog lovers! It's called Hole in the Paper Sky, and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Jessica to make considering the horrible feelings I've got in my stomach . . . just from watching the trailer!

The 30-minute-long short has already taken in two awards at the Beverly Hills Shorts Festival for Best Drama and Best Director, and I'm sure it will rack up plenty of others on its national tour. For festival dates where you can catch Hole in the Paper Sky check out Jessica's Myspace blog.

See the short, but moving – get your Kleenex ready! – trailer for Hole in the Paper Sky when you read more.

Hole in the Paper Sky trailer

6 Places For Pet-Proofing and Protection

PetSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:05:39 -0700

When it comes to dangerous items in your home, an accident is just something you haven't prevented yet. For furry families with nosy noses, check out six places you can make these pet-proofing and protection steps.

Pet-Proofing Your Laundry	Pet-Proofing Your Bathroom	Pet-Proofing Your Kitchen Area
Protect the Pumpkins	Protect the Toilet Paper	Protect the Electrical Cords

Do Tell: Do Your Pets Chew On Paper?

PetSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:40:10 -0700

You may think the statement "the dog ate my homework" is a well-worn cliché used only by fictional children in books or movies. Well, think again, as not one but two recent news stories feature dogs enjoying some paper goodies.
Case one, a woman (now being charged with identity theft and forgery) who claimed her dog got into her purse and ate all her personal checks . . . so she helped herself to her ex's account. Case two, a teenage boy whose one-year-old Golden Retriever chewed a corner of a passport, obscuring some numbers and causing an airport fiasco before his class trip to Peru.

Weigh in on both these cases and let me know if your furry friends love to chomp on any papers as well in the comments below.

Pet Peeves: How Do I Know If My Dog's Toy Is Too Small?

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:10:59 -0700

Q: I was soooo excited for my new dog, I went out and bought a ton of "puppy" toys . . . but now I'm wondering if he's outgrown them since he's almost one year old now. How can I tell if his playthings are the right size?

A: Ahh, new-puppy-mom syndrome - happens to the best of us! Not sure what kind of dog you have, but if he's a larger breed that grew significantly in size, there's a chance you may need to remove some of his old toys. Also, many puppy toys have a softer consistency so his adult teeth could tear them to shreds in no time at all.

My quick and easy rule is that if your dog can fit the entire toy easily is his mouth, it's too small. If you have a small dog, you may want to use the method some parents recommend - make sure it doesn't fit inside a toilet paper tube. Regardless, stay alert and promptly discard any tiny, torn bits or other possibly choking hazards. Don't forget, the same thing rings true for multiple pet homes (Saint Bernards could easily choke on a Chihuahua-sized toy) as well as those houses with tiny kitty toys laying about.

Source: Flickr User flygraphix

Chimp Snuggles With Baby Tigers: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:30:43 -0700

Anjana cuddles white tiger cubs - Snuzzy
Cheeky squirrel invades family photo - Dlisted
Big bear gets a big root canal - People Pets
Francesca eats (paper) Sharkey - The Daily Wag
600 dogs seized from Texas puppy mill - Dogster
Pet pig eats a woman's diamond! - Paw Nation
Q & A with professional pet photographer Edyta Szyszlo - moderncat

Online Sale Alert! Slurpabowls

PetSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:05:13 -0700

Pretty with a purpose, hot weather walks wouldn't be complete without some sort of travel dish for a droopy-tongued pal! I think these lil bowls are adorable with that lil face and lucky for us (read: me), they're now on sale. On-the-go drinks and snacks are a cinch with the portable Slurpabowls to fit into purses and pockets or even snap to a leash. After using, fold back up and, after a few uses, toss it in the paper recycling bin – now just $5 for six bowls (originally $10). Sweeeeet.

Is Your Dog a P@W?

PetSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:00:01 -0700

The P@W (short for Pet At Work) is such a great way to tote a pet to the office, it's high on my latest items-to-lust-after list. Even though the official TYDTWDay isn't until June, I was so excited to spot this item, I just couldn't hold on 'til then.

The revolutionary travel system keeps your furry friend safely away from the rest of your bag's contents. It functions as a carrier – with a small detachable dome and comfy mat if you've got a meeting – and the separate, zippered section cushioned for your laptop and any paper work. What else do you need?! Oh yeah, that small pet to go inside.

View 5 Photos ›

The Dangers That Lurk in Your Easter Basket!

PetSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:16:07 -0700

Beyond the risks of sweeteners and chocolates, there are plenty of risks in that sweet looking Easter basket. First up, those hardboiled eggs may taste fine to a pet now (dyed shells and all – yuck!) but, if he decides to bury it in the backyard and dig it up later, he can get very sick from eating those rotten eggs. What other threats lurk inside? Find out when you read more.

Small children's toys may also look like toys to a pet, too, but these fragile knick-knacks can wreak havoc on a pup's delicate tum. They're definitely not gonna hold up to his chompers and, if he gets plastic bits stuck inside, he may have to have surgery. Plastic eggs often smell of the treats inside tempting a pooch to take a nibble. And, if those treats are jellybeans, forget about it. Jellybeans are hard for many children to chew and can cause a choking hazard, imagine what it'd do to a pup.

Even though the paper grass pictured here is not as risky, the shiny, decorative Easter grass can lure in a curious cat, but pose the same problem as tinsel – strands can't be digested, get stuck in their intestines, and totally mess up the digestive system. If you're celebrating this holiday, I recommend not leaving the treats for the two-legged family members unsupervised from the furry friends. And, if you are hiding treats around the house, keep pets in another room and total up all the prizes after they're found to make sure none have been hidden too well for a person . . . but not for a pup's nose!

Source