My Fetching Fido

We all have at least one friend who insists on dressing up their cats and dogs in designer clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that practice, per se, but it doesn’t exactly appeal to me or my pit bull Gus. Even though he’s really a big softy, I still like to give people the impression that he could serve as an effective guard dog. Since his behavior is less than imposing, I’ve resorted to some new tactics.

First I bought him a spiked collar that would strike fear in the heart of any household intruder. Then I started shopping for easy-wear dog bandannas to wrap around the dog’s neck. To my mind, it gives Gus the ferocious look of a dog who might belong to a biker – maybe even a member of the Hell’s Angels. Now if I could just convince the dog not to roll over the second a stranger starts petting him.

Imagine! An airline devoted exclusively to our precious dogs and cats. Instead of passenger seats, there is room for 50 pet crates that are checked on every 15 minutes by an attendant.

What is this airline? Based out of Delray Beach, Florida, Pet Airways and is set up to transport your dog and cat around the country in twin-engine Beech 1900 turboprops. The planes fly at 25,000 feet and free pets from temperature extremes, poor ventilation an often rough handling by cargo personnel on other airlines. Pet Airways operates out of Washington, New York, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles and is looking to expand to 25 additional cities over the next two years. One-way fares vary from $149.99 to $399.99 depending on the pet’s size and destination. Dress your pet for this special adventure in an adorable dog coat to keep it cozy on the journey.

Is Halloween one of your favorite holidays, do you love costume parties? If so, then it’s probably accurate to assume that you’re the type of person who would love to dress up their dog in creatively adorable costumes. October is drawing near, which means it’s the perfect time to purchase your pet’s costume before all the good ones sell out. It’s also important to remember that, just like people, dogs come in different shapes and sizes, which means that their costumes do too. So don’t wait until it’s too late, your tiny pooch may get buried in a large costume.

Looking for your dog’s Halloween costume now will also give you a head start in generating ideas for your own costume. Maybe you want to create a theme between you and your pooch. A Hawaiian shirt and lei pair great with a shark costume for your dog – surfs up! When it comes to shopping for dog costumes, you should also consider the bunny rabbit, the bumble bee, the vampire or the sweet pea.

You probably recognize that dressing up a pooch in designer clothing is fun for all involved, but sometimes there’s actually a method to the dog owner’s madness. Such is the case when the seasons begin to the change and the weather turns sour. Dogs require plenty of exercise – rain or shine, 365 days a year – and it would be a shame to disappoint them. Your only recourse as a conscientious dog owner is to bite the bullet and outfit your companion with a dog raincoat.

Even though we’ve been placing a lot of emphasis on the functionality of doggie rain gear, there’s really nothing cuter than a puppy in a poncho. Just try walking down the street with your four-legged friend without getting some attention from passersby. They’ll be impressed with the level of care you provide your pet. Perhaps best of all, you don’t have to risk a wet, filthy “shake off” situation once you’re back at the homestead.

The fall season is coming fast upon us. Some of us are already seeing leaves dropping and changing their colors. We are starting to feel a coolness in the air on our evening walks with our pets. So, it’s a good idea to keep them warm and cozy with a soft, hooded sweatshirt. For sports fans, you can even choose your favorite logo: basketball, football, soccer, hockey and baseball. Your dog will not only look very cute but will be comfortable as well.