PetSugar

Tiffany's, Sniffany's – Your Pup Deserves It All!

PetSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:00:49 -0700

I'm always on the hunt for flashy products to let your pets get in on the wedding action! Now the bling may not be for every gal's pooch, but I know my heart flutters at the sight of the trademark Tiffany & Co. box. Sooo, why not treat an equally lucky pup to a matching lil blue satin harness ($35) for a future ring bearer to don during the ceremony and a Sniffany & Co. squeaky toy ($14) for afterwards!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

To the Rescue: Help Kitty Love Him as Much as You Do

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:00:47 -0700

As the big day nears, there comes a time to make sure your furry family approves of your fiancé! While dogs most likely meet people on daily walks, kitties may be used to your undivided attention at home . . . which can cause quite the disruption when a newcomer steals some of her spotlight. How do you teach your cat to love the one you love? I've gathered some tips and tricks to help her adjust.

Food wins her heart. Have your partner take over some mealtime duties. Let him prepare and present her food and stay nearby while she eats it, gradually getting closer as she begins to get used to his presence.
Don't forget playtime. Let him play with interactive games like a feather-laden fishing pole or other toys for active, instinctive cats. If she can't resist frolicking around, chances are she'll come around to him too.

See a couple more tips when you read more.

Hey, he smells funny. Get her used to his scent by leaving a shirt of his in her fave cuddle spot and consider putting on one of his unwashed shirts when you play with her yourself – this helps kitty associate him with you, a.k.a. her BFF.
Follow up with sweet words. Make sure your partner addresses the cat by kneeling or sitting nearby . . . but doesn't stare directly at her. Have him use a soft, high voice and avoid "sss" sounds – you don't want her to think he's hissing at her!

To see all of our wedding season coverage, check out IDoSugar.

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Gift Cards For the Big Day Starring Your Pet!

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:30:52 -0700

Well, the decision's still out on whether or not you'd marry off your pet but, even if you wouldn't, how about giving a Gift Card Lab creation with the face of the best ~~man~~ dog to the happy (human) couple? While normal gift cards can be a tad impersonal, adding a picture of a beloved pet shows that you are thinking of them, too! Simply upload a picture of a happy "couple" (or their new furry fam) and you'll be able to set different dollar amounts, recipient names, and personalized messages when you check out. Remember, don't get the Visa in a furry friend's name – they still can't purchase things on their own . . . usually that is.

Wedding Cakes for Your Furry Family

PetSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:40 -0700

Since we're full steam ahead bringing you all things wedding here on the Sugar Network, it's time to talk planning. If wedding bells will be ringing for your pets sometime soon, then you'll want to start thinking about the best part of the whole event: the cake!

Now, as much as we all enjoy stuffing our faces with some cake during big events, some common ingredients can be harmful to animals. Make sure that the cake you get (or make yourself) is pet-friendly. For example, chocolate is toxic to dogs, but it's an easy fix by substituting carob instead. If you don't have time to slave away in the kitchen, don't be embarrassed to let the pros handle it. Animal bakeries are popping up all over the country and are becoming quite a hit here in SF, too. North and I love heading past Bella and Daisy's for their special doggie treats when we're in the area, and bet they could whip up a sweet pet wedding cake. But what about this three-tiered wonder? Find out when you read more.

Even if you don't live near a bakery that caters to the four-legged species, this Dog Wedding Cake ($140) from Paw Palace can be made to your specifications, uses all human grade ingredients, and doesn't use sugar or preservatives. But the best part is that it can be shipped right to your door on the wedding day! Besides, the mother (or father) of the bride has more important things to worry about on the big day than baking a cake, right?

To check out more of our wedding coverage, head over to I Do Sugar.

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Pets Can Wed, Too!

PetSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:00:20 -0700

From including pets in your wedding – to planning one of their very own – I'll be coming up with our own wilder wedding season ideas for those furry friends. If you're thinking of planning a wedding for your lil one, the Rev. Tyker (that's this pooch) of Pet Weds will perform the ceremony for you. Whether you're thinking same breed or different breed wedding (hey, even same species or not), this ordained pup will perform it for you – after all, he's a duly authorized Minister from the Universal Life Church of Modesto. Because there are plenty of people who'd love to promise pets to their BFFs, I'll be sprinkling in some info about how to go about planning a pet wedding, along with tips on including your beloved animal in your very own ceremony.
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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

My Exclusive Interview with Gus, the 2008 World's Ugliest Dog!

PetSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:00:45 -0700

All the way from St. Petersburg, Florida, Gus captured the title – and my heart – when he won the 20th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Competition. The three-legged, one-eyed pup with cancer has a true tale of triumph – Jeanenne Teed and daughter Janey plan to use his award money of $1,600 (that's $100 for being a finalist for the purebred category, $500 for winning the Ugliest Dog of 2008 at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, and $1,000 for being the "2008 World's Ugliest Dog") towards his radiation treatments.In addition to the money, he got two trophies, one taller than his owners – I've got no clue how they'll get those back to the Sunshine state! I already mentioned it was hot, hot, hot up in Petaluma, but that didn't stop me from catching up with the trio after they won and asking them a few questions about their precious pooch.

PS: How long ago did Gus join your family?
JT: Gus is nine years old and came to us when he was one year old. He came to us word of mouth . . . he was being kept inside a crate inside a garage by an owner who really just couldn't deal with him. She did the right thing and she gave him up to a better home . . . we'd like to think. And he's been with us ever since, through thick and thin, and he's hanging in there. He's a tough cookie.

PS: You mentioned that he has cancer – what kind of cancer does he have?
JT: He has skin cancer. He was diagnosed in December of '06 and, at that time, the cancer was quite advanced and he needed to have his leg amputated. The other leg was debulked and the tumor was removed. After chemotherapy and then treatment with another medication, he had a great year – we had a great year – we took him on vacation for the first time.

Find out where they went – and what happened to his eye! – when you read more.

PS: Where did you go?
JT: We went to the Panhandle to an area that we always go to, Walton Beach, and it was just a great experience. Over Christmas, and over the holidays, we had that and now we have this great experience, too, which is unbelievable . . . absolutely unbelievable.

PS: So when you got Gus, did he have only one eye?
JT: Well, that's a sad . . . (laughs) . . . Gus got into a cat fight last December and obviously the cat won. So he lost his eye, too, to the cat. And he hasn't forgotten about it either.

PS: Hmm, they're not pals now I'm guessing?
JT: No, they're one for one. Gus had caught the kitten when he was a tiny, itty bitty kitten. And was trying to tear the kitten up with our other dog, Buttons, and they were playing tug-of-war. I rescued the little kitten who turned out to be a great, big tomcat.

PS: What's Gus's favorite treat?
JT: French fries. Unfortunately. We don't feed him this often but he loves McDonald's french fries. And when he was undergoing chemotherapy and his stomach was upset, the only thing he would eat was pepperoni pizza. Fortunately Janey works at a pizza place so it was easy to come by but that's what kept him going when nothing else tasted good to him.

PS: And are you gonna get him a special meal before you go back to the hotel tonight? A pampering snack at the fair, funnel cake perhaps?
JT: Him or us (laughs). We will get Gus whatever he wants to eat. It's been a great experience.

Including Poochie in Your Big Day!

PetSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:30:23 -0700

The big day is almost here – all the major deets have been settled . . . except for the furriest family member. If you've spent hours picking out your dress, outfits for the bridal party, and providing input to your husband-to-be, why should you cut corners when it comes to the canines? While not all of you want to include a pet for the entire gala , there's the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, and honeymoon to think about – check out the various fashions for each event in this doggie fashion show on the streets of NYC.

If you are choosing to include your precious pal on your big day, check out my words of wisdom when you read more.

Say yes to the dress (tux, tiara, or bowtie): You've probably had at least a couple fittings for your dress so, as with any costume, also let your pup try on her outfit before the event to get her used to wearing it. Don't forget to have a plan for the leash and check for any excess fabrics that could get soiled if your pooch . . . ahem, needs to go. On the day itself, don't dress her too early to prevent additional stress (or chewing) and take the outfit off if she will be left unsupervised.
Hand it off to a handler: Appoint a special person to be your pet's assistant for the day – giving someone else the duty to be responsible for your furry friend will let you focus on the party . . . not the potty breaks. This person can be responsible for occupying the dog while you're getting ready, making sure your pet gets enough attention, and either watching her or escorting her back home when the pet's job there is done.
Consider furry cameos: My BFF was devastated when she learned that the church where she was having her ceremony wouldn't all her pittie pal, Baby, to participate. If you want your pet to take place – and you're not sure you have the time to adequately train her before the big day – have her come for part of the time. Outdoor receptions, rehearsal dinners at a family home or other familiar, pet-friendly settings can allow your pooch to join in, but not seem too out of place. Although I'm not close to marriage, I imagine my hyperactive pup wouldn't fare so well spending all day at a wedding. . . . I'd love to have North brought in just for some photos!