Pet Monologues

We’ve noticed that many people like to get their canine companions a dog bed as a holiday gift.  And why not?  They’re fuzzy, cozy, luxurious and available in holiday colors.  However, too many people go about selecting a dog bed all wrong.  There are three primary questions you need to answer when choosing a dog bed:

1.  Is my dog large or small?  This may seem obvious, but too many people choose that cute round dog bed because it fits perfectly between their sofa and fireplace and it matches the rug.  But guess what?  Their yellow lab doesn’t fit in it!

2.  How does your dog like to sleep?  Is your dog a a curler, a leaner, a sprawler or a burrower?  Each of these sleep styles dictate a different shaped bed.  Curlers prefer the security of donut beds.  Beds with bolsters or another type of back support are best for leaners.  Sprawlers need a bed with flat sides such as a pillow or cushion style.  And there are special dog beds specifically for burrowers that have extra fabric for your pooch to nuzzle her nose under and crawl in.

3.  Do you need the dog bed to have any special attributes such as heated, weather resistant, or perhaps your older dog needs an orthopedic dog bed.

Fortunately most dog beds come in an array of colors and fabrics allowing you to find a dog bed that will satisfy your pooch without compromising your decor.  Just ask Millie (below).

Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

Dare to be different with these fabulous Dachshund Bags! Hand-made from real leather you’re bound to be noticed with this bag.
via dutch by design swiss miss

Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

Spread out the heavy lifting in your family. Cute too!

Backpack and pull-a-long

via swiss miss

Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

Anamalz Great wood animal toys.

via swiss miss

Wren bird pouches.
Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

via swiss miss

Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

This sew-it-yourself Let’s Stitch kit comes hand-screenprinted on two pieces of canvas, complete with sewing instructions and name tag. Cut out the pieces, sew them together, stuff with the filling of your choice and cuddle up! A great gift for a budding little crafter.

An Egg Press product. via three potato four swiss miss

Holiday shopping. Here come the animal products!

Social networking is not just limited to you and your friend. Woof! Yes, you heard right! The SNIF tag is a wireless gadget that clips onto a dog’s collar. As you take your dog for a walk amongst all the other SNIF-enabled hounds at your local park, the tag records your dog’s erm, interactions and shares the data with other tags.

Back at home, the tag uploads its data to your online SNIF profile, which allows you to share as much personal information with other SNIF owning dog lovers as you can handle. Too much information? This could be THE dating magnet of the year!

For the designer backstory, here’s a video clip of SNIF tag production.

via snif-tag and core 77

CipCip is a coloured enameled ceramic birdhouse. It is ready to be hung up outdoors, to provide a warm winter shelter for small birds and a safe nest for large hatches. Thanks to its natural materials, such as hemp rope and unleaded enamels, CipCip is a unique long-lasting object to be used in your garden.

http://www.designdot.it
Designer: Alberto Caramello (Italy)
Manufacturer: DOT (Italy)

I’ve always admired the artful salt and pepper mills William Bounds produces. Here are two new ones fit for a pet blog. A leopard. A zebra.

Pep Art Animal Print Gourd Mills
The Pep Art collection of mills is functional art deco art designed by Robert Wilhelm. Inspired by Native American totems and fetishes, these colorful, hand-painted mills also are ergonomic and designed for a lifetime of use. The animal print design is a new variation of our popular Gourd mill. As all mills from William Bounds, the Pep Art collection features a stainless steel shaft and high-output ceramic milling mechanism that may be used either as a pepper mill or salt mill!

via william bounds 125west.com

J.R.

richard

ralph

lifegoods

(Top three) Modern Birdhouses’ Case Study Masters Series honors the architectural pioneers who participated in the Case Study Houses Program. The Case Study Houses Program was established in 1945 by John Entenza, the progressive editor and publisher of Arts and Architecture magazine. Entenza commissioned architects to design simple and innovative modern homes for a growing post-war housing market. The resulting homes took full advantage of industrialized building processes and continue to broadly influence modern architecture. Participants included such icons as Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen.

Named after Case Study participants J.R. Davidson, Richard Neutra, and Ralph Rapson — feature simple lines, modern detailing, and durable materials. They are hand-made from sustainably harvested teak that has been certified with the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program (www.smartwood.org). The wood is finished with an oil that protects against water, mildew, and UV rays. The roofs are constructed of sandblasted 1/4″ thick aluminum plate and aluminum dowels. Stainless steel fasteners prevent rust and corrosion. The opening is 1-3/8″ in diameter, which will accomodate common cavity-nesting birds such as chickadees, bluebirds, wrens, and swallows.

The birdhouses ship pre-assembled, except for the mounting bracket, which can be attached with two provided stainless steel screws. A keyhole slot on the back of the mounting bracket allow the birdhouse to be hung on a single screw. The floor is easily removable for cleaning.

via modern birdhouses life goods swiss miss