::christmas:is:going:to:the:dogs::

FYI to my regular readers, this is just an older post...but really wanted to post this! :)

What a weekend. It went by crazy fast. 

My poor little Lou'e had to go to the emergency vet on Sunday because of a bad eye infection. No idea how or what brought this on. But my heart breaks for the little guy every time I look into his big chocolatey brown eyes...because he can barely open one! 

I know that a lot of people look at animals and say they're "just dogs" or "just cats"...but my two, Lou'e and Moo, are part of my family and I treat them as such. I will still treat them like dogs, but at the same time, what's wrong with coddling them?? As long as they don't have any behavioral issues, right? They're my little babies and I love to nurture and love 'em up. 

Let me tell you though, they can get expensive! LOL! The vet visit wasn't cheap and oftentimes it can set a lot of people back. That's why I think that sometimes it might be wise to invest in a pet-plan where you pay into some sort of an account monthly - or a health insurance plan.

Since I've got dog on the brain and have for the last few days (non-stop!) AND Christmas (since it snowed this weekend!!) I've decided to do a little post on great gift-ideas for pet parents and their sidekicks! 

PS. This is a dog-lover post, I'm sorry I have nothing for the kitties at this time. Maybe in a future post! :)

Also, please be mindful of the sites - some are Canadian and some are American! You can click on the title of each product, which will take you directly to a link where you can purchase these items. :) And no, I'm not getting paid to endorse these products. I just seen them and thought it would be a great idea to put some ideas together for you guys for spoiling your pooch at Christmas!

Christmas is Going to the Dogs!

Your puppies Christmas Wishlist! (And maybe yours too! :))

Snack Duo for Dogs
$19.99 USD

This is the perfect {and only} 2-in-1 travel 'pupware' that you'll need on road trips or hikes with your pooch! There are two compartments here, one for water and one for food or treats that you can take with you when traveling. The lid also pops off and gets turned into a collapsible dish.
Great for people - and pups! - on the go! :)

Gulpy Water Dispenser
$9.99 CAD

This is another great travel item for your pooch. Similiar to the one above, but this one is just for water, in case you don't want to lug around food - or don't need to. They come in an array of colours and the large plastic backing that you see behind the actual bottle itself, opens up into a miniature "trough".

Outward Hound Lucky Slots
$16.76 USD (Amazon)

This is the cutest thing ever!
My puppies don't eat dry food, but if yours do, isn't this the cutest/perfect idea for them to get to their food? It'll slow 'em down some, so it's great if your pooch likes to wolf his or her meals down in 5 seconds flat...like Maggie does...which also leads me tooooo...

Jorvet Buster Maze Bowl
$37.92 USD (Amazon)

Okay, I know this is a liiiiiiiittle ridiculously overpriced for a dog bowl...for literally just a weirdly shaped piece of plastic BUT there are TUNZ of different options out there for your pooch! 
My moo eats FAST...actually, she doesn't eat, she INHALES. So am looking into a "maze bowl" for her, so that she can slow it down a little bit at 'bweakfast" time. ;) These apparently work amazingly well, because it takes a little more work for your puplet to get to their food. 

Bake a Bone
$30.05 USD (Amazon)

LOL! Is this NOT amazing?? I just stumbled upon this while doing the posts, and this actually has some pretty fabulous reviews! It's literally like a waffle maker, except it's specifically for your pooch! There's nothing better then feeding your dog home-made treats. Much healthier for them too!
NOTE: Please make sure to do your research - dogs can't just eat anything! So some ingredients will be on the NO NO list. 

iFetch
$207.95 USD (Amazon)

You must be asking yourself - what in the hell is that!?!
It's an AUTOMATIC BALL THROWER!! Hahah, it honestly made me LOL! But it's just the cutest! Just check out the site! It is a little steep in price though, so you must be a dedicated doggy lover to shell out the cash for something like this (or just incredibly lazy, lol!).
This contraption allows your dog to drop the ball into the machine and it shoots out (up to 30ft!!) the other end!
I am pretty confident this probably wouldn't do well in my apartment (or any apartment that has fragile things around) so this is ideal for pups with BIG homes and yards! 

OurPets Big Bone Pet Toy Storage Bin
$29.99 USD (Amazon)

This is just the cutest.
If your furchild is beyond spoiled (like my two are!) they probably have a gajillion toys! My Mom even jokes that my dogs have more toys then my Sister and I had as children! LOL.
So...why not invest in their very own storage bin?? It's just too cute! 

Petite Amande Dog Fragrance
$78.50 USD Mungo & Maud

Another bit of a steep gift for the dog lover...but AMAZING!
This is actually a perfume/cologne for puppy dogs!
They explain that their ingredients are carefully chosen and of the highest quality (well it has to be for our furballs, doesn't it??). And with "delicate notes of French blackcurrant, Tunisian neroli, mimosa and violet leaf, base of sweet vanilla bourbon with a little almond...it almost makes me want to just get it for myself!

Barkbox
Monthly fee's apply.

Last but certainly not list...probably at the VERY TOP of every puplet's Christmas Wish List to Santa is their very own subscription to BarkBox!
This is a monthly service (that now ships to Canada!! woohoo!!) that ships right to your door - filled with goodies! Such as toys, treats and chews! All of their treats/chews are all natural and made with the best ingredients...so no need to worry there - and also a few toys are thrown in for good measure! You can get a BarkBox for individual puppies, or one for two puplets! Or more! You obviously have to pay for this monthly service, and it depends on what sort of 'package' you decide to go with. But it's just an AWESOME gift for anyone that has a furball.
I actually know someone that receives these boxes to work every month - and there is always a tun of fun stuff in there. :) Definitely something Moo and Lou'e would LOVE! One day... :) 

There you have it! Just a couple of little things here and there in case you needed help with purchasing something for your dog-loving-dog-crazy friend or for your very own fluffy lovebugs. :)

I wanted to just quickly make a special mention as well - when purchasing treats/food online - please make sure to read all ingredients and find out WHERE they were made. 

I would highly recommend that YOU DO NOT PURCHASE any sort of food for your pooch from China - as there have been many cautionary as well as heart-breaking stories regarding treats that were fed to furballs that came from China...not saying all do...but...wouldn't you want to go local anyways and purchase from your own city? 

Also - I would be wary of RAWHIDE as well - bully sticks are the way to go (under supervision!) but make sure those babies are made locally too. Oftentimes, bully sticks that come from Brazil or India get transported with loads of bacteria that can upset your poochies sensitive tummy. 

Dogs are like people too, people! 

They ain't trash cans! Feed them nutritious foods...

Only the best for man's best friend. :) 

Happy Howl-idays! :))

PS. Check BarkPost's site for more fantastic holiday gift ideas for poochies and dog-lovers alike. :)

-S.*