Treat The Holidays Right

It's no secret that the holidays tend to be a time of dietary indulgence for many of us. Even those of us who usually try to watch what we eat typically allow ourselves a little something special or an extra helping of Aunt Sue's famous family recipe. And while we may let our diet slip a little bit it's important to keep our dogs' diets in check during the holidays.

While we certainly advocate the giving of healthy treats (in controlled amounts), it's important not to change up a dog's diet too much. Drastic changes in diet, whether it's changing to a new food or slipping Buddy something from the table, can wreck havoc on a dog's delicate stomach. So while they may look up at you with adoring eyes that simply beg to have a piece of the spiral-cut ham, it's best to keep their diet as normal as possible. Also keep in mind that dogs can be master thieves when it comes to food so keep any toxic treats - mainly chocolate! - out of dogs' reach.

If you have any questions about what to feed/not feed your dog it's best to ask your veterinarian. A list of toxic foods and houseplants can also be found here: http://www.entirelypets.com/toxicfoods.html

CBS Calls Our Cupcake Mix "A Perfect Holiday Gift"

We're excited to announce that this morning The Early Show, CBS' national morning show, named our Cupcake Mix "A Top Holiday Gift" for pets.

UPDATE: Just got the video.

Something to Bark About

Woof Report came out today with their top holiday gifts under $20 and our Cupcake Mix for Dogs made the list! Check out the complete list here (we're listed under the Gifts Galore for $20 section).

And while you're there, be sure to sign up to receive their free daily email about all things dog (and sometimes a cat or two). They scour the pet world to bring their readers the best products, hints, tips, and services. It's a wonderful resource and since they never share or sell their subscription list you don't have to worry about spam.

Favorite Stocking Stuffers

In our house the holidays are a big deal. Partly because we celebrate both Hannauka and Christmas - that means there's a lot of celebrating in the month of December. Truth be told though, it's the stocking's we put out on Christmas Eve that are always the biggest hit. The goal is to fill up the stockings with thoughtful and inexpensive gifts that the stocking owner didn't even know they wanted. And they need to be small so that they fit into the stocking. I should also mention that gift certificates are not allowed as part of the stocking gifts as that would be way too easy. As such, we are always on the hunt for the perfect stocking gifts.

The family dogs (of which, in the immediate family there are five) all have their own individual stockings of course and are part of the festivities. Actually, I think they get the better part of the deal as they just get to open up the gifts and don't actually have to buy any. Ah, the beauty of being a dog! But that does mean that we're always on the hunt for the perfect stocking stuffers for our dogs so I wanted to share with you some favorites we found this year:

The Healthy Pup System Set is an on-the-go first aid kit that comes with everything you may need for minor scraps and scratches. Best of all, the entire set is made from organic ingredients so that you know while helping your dog you're also helping the earth.
Available for $18.50 through Juno's Garden (www.junosgarden.com)

Etta Says Recycled Rubber Collars are made from recycled bicycle tires though they look like high quality leather. Bright stitching (all done locally in the USA) gives the collars a very smart sophisticated look. Available for $28.00 through Etta Says! (www.ettasays.com)

Yep - it's one of ours but it really is one of our best selling products. Each gift bag holds four hand-decorated petit fours in either carob chip (blue and white) or peanut butter (pink and white) flavors. The bags may be small but the packaging makes them a big gift. Yet at $6 a bag you have plenty of money left over for other fun stocking stuffers. Available for $6 through Petit Four Legs (www.petitfourlegs.com)

Lastly, what can I say, the Hedgehog (or Hedgie, as he's referred to in our house) is a perennial favorite. It doesn't matter how many toys are in the bin, our dogs are always looking for Hedgie. And Hedgie's holiday cap just cracks me up. Available for $4.99 at PetCo (www.petco.com)