The Cirneca dell’Etna is a small rabbit hunting hound from Sicily.

What a blur of excitement, activity and lots and lots of dogs! My week in New York City, for the New York Pet Fashion Show, Westminster Dog Show and a host of other fun activities went by in a flash, but not before I got to experience rare breeds, fashionable breeds and all around doggy fanatics, just like us. I even met Jerry Grymek, the Doggy Concierge of the Hotel Pennsylvania, whose sole job it is to make sure the dogs residing at the hotel during Westminster are sufficiently pampered!

Want to know what rare breeds dogs made appearances at Meet the Breeds this year? Which ones had it going on with style? You’re in the right place, ladies and gents! Discover my musings from Westminster, Part One.

I’m the rarest of the rarest of the rare, you say?

Rare breeds showcase each year at the Meet the Breeds event on the Saturday before the big Madison Square Garden Westminster Dog Show. And each year, I’m fascinated by some of them, their history, sometimes their appearance and just how few of them there are in this country. Here are a smattering of the ones I came across and loved:

The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

A tongue-twisting, long name for a furry little dog, the two examples of the breed I met also were very stylish. These are one of only two toy breeds developed in Russia in the 1950’s (the other being the Russian Toy). Candace Mogavro brought the first one into the U.S. in 2000. In 2016, the AKC accepted them into their FSS program (that means Foundation Stock Services, and its a stepping stone to breed recognition here). There are only 3-4000 of them in America. Look at the adorable Russian Karakul hat he’s wearing? Yes, it’s faux.

This Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is dressing the part!

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka fashion, female style

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

This handsome breed almost went extinct during WWII, but was brought back in the 1960’s. You can see them in paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt. They are currently in the Miscellaneous category of the AKC, one step closer from FSS towards being a recognized breed. Only 300 or so reside in the U.S..

The rare breed, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

the Mudi

This Hungarian Herding breed is a medium-sized dog, in existence since the nineteenth century. They supposedly evolved naturally from crosses of the Puli, Pumi and German Spitz breeds. The breed was named and registered in 1936. They are active, intelligent and a great working breed for things like agility, flyball, obedience and, of course, herding. This sweetie, named Spring, is a merle-colored Mudi. Don’t you love the dainty holiday-inspired rope tassel neck piece she’s wearing? I do…

The lovely Mudi, Spring

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

These are my tribe, people! As you know, I’m a big Podengo lover and our Sophie is an adorable Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, if I don’t say so myself (mom’s prerogative). 🙂 They didn’t have a table last year at Meet the Breeds, so when I came upon them this year, I was thrilled. Here are two examples of the breed, a very handsome smooth coat and adorable Roada, the wire haired version. The Portuguese Podengo is a rare breed and a primitive breed. They are rabbit hunters that come in three sizes – the Pequeno, the Medio and the Grande. It is said that because the Pequeno is so fearless, they would go places other dogs wouldn’t, like up cliffs and down warrens, ferreting out the rabbits for the Medios to kill. I know Sophie loves a good squirrel chase, but can someone please clue her in on the fearless thing? She’s a shaker!

A beautiful Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Smooth Coat

Cutie pie Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Wire Haired, Roada

Biewer Terrier

These very cute, silky little terriers are a German breed, with only 167 registered with the AKC. The Biewer Yorkie was originally a piebald genetic recessive gene occurrence from two Yorkshire Terriers. It originated in Germany in 1984, from a breeding by Gertrud and Werner Biewer’s Yorkshire Terriers. In this particular litter, they produced a piebald Yorkie puppy from a genetic recessive gene. This piebald puppy’s registered name was Schneefloeckchen von Friedheck (Snowflake). They loved the look of the puppy so much, they began breeding for it and the Biewer Terrier was born. This little cutie, Moore Bowwag Foundation Fire8tr, aka Flame, had a face to melt hearts and the cutest, sparkly pink bow.

How cute is Biewer Terrier, Flame?

the Barbet

Also known as the French Water Dog, the Barbet is a fun, smart and affectionate pooch. They don’t shed and share ancestry with the Poodle, Briard and Bichon Frise, among others. There are only 210 registered in the U.S.  They are currently in the AKC FSS class, before they enter Miscellaneous in 2017. Barbets are great at field work, agility and obedience, as well as therapy dog work.  A cool thing I discovered at the Barbet Club of America booth was the Masters with Barbet series, where Barbets are placed into the works of some master painters, like Matisse, Monet and Seurat. Here’s an example of a Matisse. These adorable two I met are Marlee and Ren.

French Barbets Marlee & Ren

Masters with Barbet-Matisse

Who had style at Westminster?

Showdogs in general, or should I say show dog owners, are a very practical bunch. I haven’t yet met many who really dress up their dogs like some of us do. That being said, these dogs are pretty gorgeous naked! I did, however, come across some expressions of style that charmed. Here are a few:

I love Italian Greyhounds! To me, they are one of the most graceful and elegant of breeds. When I saw these three, the little girl in the pink fleece wrap so reminded me of a ballerina in her warm up’s. And, I loved the stylish collar on the other pup. Did you notice the sparkly little girl in the background?

Graceful Italian Greyhounds 

The Greyhound is another favorite. I came across Gretchen Thiele and her baby, Puzzle. “I got a Greyhound so I could knit for it,” she told me. I loved that. She shared that she belongs to a Facebook group for knitters called Ravelry.com and the toasty, awesome shade of hunter green snood she made for Puzzle came from Nikki Atkins’ free pattern, in case anyone’s interested. Ask me if you need more info. I also loved fellow Greyhound, Belle’s, collar. Belle’s show name is Sky Hi Hunt Big Girls Don’t Cry, because of the teardrop pattern on her face.

Graceful Greyhounds Puzzle & Belle

These Dobermans were so commanding, sitting there as I rounded the corner. And, once I saw their collars, I had to take share!  Ricky Bobby’s statement piece is by Oli and Fury’s crystal creation is by Ella’s Lead. Both wonderful!

Doberman Pinscher’s Fury & Ricky Bobby

This beautiful and sweet Cocker Spaniel, Penny, was sporting a very pretty pale pink pearl and crystal collar. I wish the handler knew who made it. It suited her so, so well.

Cocker Spaniel, Penny, the ultimate in femininity.

These Bergamasco’s, Fidelio and his mother, Essa, needed no fashion statement, as their natural coats already made one. They did have lovely, vibrant-colored leashes. How would you like to have to care for these two? The Bergamasco made its first appearance at Westminster this year.

Bergamascos Fidelio & mom, Essa

This handsome Old English Sheepdog was all ready for Valentine’s Day.

This Old English Sheepdog is ready with a Valentine’s Day fashion statement

Remember how I told you the show dog set is very practical? I came across this stunning St. Bernard, Trey, at the Westminster press conference, where I also met new Westminster Kennel Club Director of Communications, Gail Miller Bisher (maybe she’s a long lost relative? 🙂 ). Trey was wearing a complementing pair of green camo leg covers and an adorable St. Bernard-centric neck accessory. When I asked owner/handler/breeder, Brian, about the fashion statement on a gorgeous hunk of dog like Trey, he explained that St. Bernard showers use neck accessories (well, he called them bibs) and leg protectors all the time. These droolie pusses would slobber all over their beautiful, newly groomed selves otherwise, and the leg protectors also keep them clean when just walking around. I still think Trey looked ever so handsome!

Stylin’ Trey

I was totally smitten by Martha. This vivacious, charming twelve year old Australian Terrier looked perfect in her fun, hot pink neck accessory.

The precious Australian Terrier senior, Martha

Imagine my delight, rounding a corner and seeing not only a gorgeous Bull Terrier, the very coolest of breeds, but one who pays such attention to style?! Vettel had it going on, with her The Guilded Puppy sparkly, pink tutu and rainbow neck accessory.

Bull Terrier envy. Vettel in her finery.

Summary

Hope you enjoyed discovering the rare breeds and fashion of Westminster as much as I did! In Part Two, I’ll give you my inside look at the competition – the Portuguese Podengo and Chihuahua Best in Breed trials and the Hound Group competition from Madison Square Garden. I”m adding the Chi’s this year, in honor of our adoptees, Anabelle and Albie. Bear with me; I’m recuperating from the flu, a by-product of running around New York in the snow, deep freeze and rain of the past week. It may take a couple of days but I won’t disappoint you, so…Don’t miss! 🙂

Which dog’s style is your favorite?

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Noah, feeling the almighty, powerful rock star he is

Do you have a blind dog or know someone who does? What about a blind shelter dog?  It’s Love Your Pet Day and, if ever there was one, this is a great gift of love for a blind dog.  I wrote about Muffin’s Halo a  year and a half ago, after discovering the product at an industry conference. It’s inventor, Silvie Bordeaux, created the product out of love for her at that time 13 1/2 year old toy poodle Muffin, who went blind due to cataracts. “I was devastated, since he kept bumping into walls and falling down the stairs. He became very depressed and was afraid to move around. I could not let him out of my sight and carried him around everywhere.”

Muffin in his Muffin’s Halo

She searched the internet but couldn’t find anything suitable for Muffin. That’s when she realized that there was a great need for a product to assist blind/visually impaired dogs, and she set to work.

A Muffin’s Halo is a harness plus, made from lightweight copper tubing, fabric and velcro. The covered tubing provides a barrier around the dog’s head that helps guide it around obstacles. So, instead of walking into a wall, the Halo alerts the dog a few inches from the wall, that it’s there, allowing the pup to navigate around it. Silvie added padded angel’s wings to the halo-like bumper design to represent blind dogs being guided by their angels. They’re manufactured right here in the U.S. in Silvie’s factory in California.

Here’s a video of how it works:

“Muffin’s Halo changed his life, as well as mine,” Silvie shared. “He knew his home again and could travel with me to any hotel or friend’s house and familiarize himself with any new surroundings, quickly. Most importantly, I could leave him at home for hours and know that he is safe.”

Mia even has her own blinged out version

And, they’re stylish, too! Muffin’s Halos come in white, red, pink and blue, in colorful butterfly wings, a My Blind Dog proclamation one and, for football fans, the quarterback Halo. Coming soon, a Muffin’s Halo for cats. I’m sure they’ll be super cute! But, more important than cute, is the incredible power this product is providing blind dogs around the world. Please share this with any parents of blind dogs or shelters in your neighborhood. What a blessing to give a blind dog a new lease on life!

Sadly, at 15, Muffin recently passed over the Rainbow Bridge. But, he leaves a very powerful paw print. Muffin’s Halo is now all over the world and has helped countless blind dogs feel empowered. It’s twice-patented, and won Best Dog Product in 2015 at SuperZoo, an influential pet industry conference. And, it is highly recommended by Animal Ophthalmologists and Veterinarians worldwide.

America’s favorite vet, Dr. Marty Becker, had this to say, “I was recently sent a review product called ‘Muffin’s Halo’ to try, and it blew me away enough that it became one of my Top new products of the year. These wings and halo help my blind dog ‘see’.”

Sylvie went on to create Second Chances for Blind Dogs to provide Halos free to blind dogs in shelters. I asked Silvie to share a powerful story about how a Muffin’s Halo helped a rescue, and here’s what she told me. It took a village of very special ladies to save Noah. Here’s his tale.

Noah’s Story

Backyard breeders. We’ve read about them; heard how awful they are. Yet, people still buy from them, because everyone isn’t yet educated on what terrible conditions these dogs can live under and how interbreeding, common with backyard breeders, can create horrorshow dogs, deformed and sickly, some never making it out of puppyhood. Pet stores, Craig’s List, there are many channels through which backyard breeders sell their commodities…puppies.

Noah at rescue

Noah, post grooming, one day after being rescued

Noah came from such a place in California. Born without eyes and no knees, causing him to waddle like a duck, inbreeding started Noah’s life in major deficit. Just look at the poor little guy.

He was one of four Cockapoo pups – Mary and Abby are his sisters. All have leg deformities and a fourth, brother Romeo, died from malnourishment, before he ever got to really experience life. Because Noah was born without eyes, his sisters ate his food. All the dogs were so malnourished, that by the time Noah was 5 1/2 months old, he only weighed 2.5 lbs. Lucky for Noah and his sisters, a lady named Jasmin Gabay Kimball, entered their lives.

Bobby Kimball & Jasmin Gabay Kimball

Jasmin is an animal savior. Married to Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of Grammy Award-winning rock band, Toto (remember “Hold the Line”?), Jasmin and Bobby have devoted their lives to locating dogs in need, providing them a safe haven and helping to place them around the country in forever homes. They founded Saving K9 Lives Plus, a 501(c)3 charity for that purpose. She and Silvie know each other from the California rescue network.

I asked her how she got into saving animals five years ago. “Our friend wanted a dog similar to our Maltese,” she explained.”I helped her. This was the first time I was ever in an animal shelter. I became aware of the animals there. I helped by doing blankets drives, fostering…later staring our own rescue, Saving K9 Lives Plus.”

Jasmin was made aware of the triplets through her friend, a vet, brought in to try to save their dying brother. She came with a team to wrest these hapless puppies from the clueless backyard breeder, who thought she was doing good by them. Can you imagine?  Jasmin took in Noah and his sisters for the first 3 weeks of their journey.

“Saving the triplet puppies was a challenge and a learning experience,” Jasmin explained. “We set out to help them, never realizing they would bring awareness to special needs animals!”

Rosie

Jasmin reached out to foster mom,  Cinnamon Muhlbauer. Cinnamon’s specialty is victims of inbreeding and other special needs dogs. She has a Facebook page named after her baby, Everything Rosie, which boasts close to 200,000 fans and is a go to place for people looking to adopt a special needs dog. Rosie was the victim of a backyard breeder/hoarder, a Chihuahua born on Valentine’s Day 2010 with congenital deformities of the face, jaw, spine, and legs. Her life was short-lived; Rosie passed before she was three. But, it was filled with love, once Cinnamon adopted her and Rosie has helped draw attention to this horrible, greedy, cruel practice. People like Cinnamon, Jasmin, Silvie and Lisa Marie, who you’ll soon meet, are true angels. Cinnamon fostered Noah, Mary and Abby for two months. Now, enter Lisa Marie Edge.

Lisa Marie went looking for a dog…

Before Noah was born, Lisa Marie had been looking to add to their canine family. A medical assistant and teacher for underprivileged kids in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, Lisa Marie and her husband, Rob, are angels in the army of special needs pet parents. They already had experience with blind dogs, dogs debilitated by stroke, dogs without all of their legs.

Over the course of a year, Lisa Marie filled out application after application online for dogs around the country. Whether she didn’t receive a call back or the rescue didn’t want to cross state lines with the dog, Lisa Marie was becoming frustrated.

Simultaneously, Cinnamon’s Everything Rosie Facebook page started promoting the triplets and the word spread. People came out of the woodwork to adopt, especially for Noah, who had the greatest challenges.  Jasmin held onto the applications for six weeks, until the puppies were further along in their recovery.  Lisa Marie seemed a good fit, and she finally got her first call back. Isn’t it funny how the universe works? We don’t always understand it in the moment, but as it unfolds, things become clearer.

Jasmin gives Noah one last hug before taking him to the airport Photo credit: Rhoda Goodman

In that conversation, Jasmin advised Lisa Marie to talk to Cinnamon. This dog will need a LOT of rehab; it’ll be three months before he’s even ready to go home, she shared. Lisa Marie and Rob weren’t deterred.

Noah ready to go to the airport to fly to his new family Photo credit: Rhoda Goodman

Jasmin is meticulous about placements. Home checks of Lisa Marie and Rob’s were organized. Shelters and rescuers work together in a big network around the country, so Jasmin reached out to Shelly Lampe, from United Yorkie Rescue, a local shelter near Lisa Marie. Shelly thought Lisa Marie and Rob were a great fit for Noah!

Lisa Marie and Noah

Three months  later and exactly one year ago today, Noah was flown home, where loving parents, five other special needs siblings, a Mangos on a Mission-donated wheelchair and, yes, a Silvie-donated Muffin’s Halo awaited him. In less than two months, Noah outgrew his Muffin’s Halo, his wheelchair and gained almost six pounds! “He was so hungry,” Lisa Marie shared. Today, Noah weighs 12 pounds. Look how gorgeous he looks!

Look how empowered Noah is with his Muffin’s Halo. The boy even skis!

How do these people do it? We all love animals, yet it takes a special kind of person to seek out and care for those with special needs. “When you look different, you are just as important as any purebred dog,” Lisa Marie declared.

Noah’s Legacy

The Rockstar that is Noah

Just like Muffin’s life mattered to so many, Noah is empowering others through his. Noah has his own Facebook page, Noah’s Legacy: I’m a Blind Rock Star, This is How I Roll. It’s filled with wonderful photos and videos of Noah and his siblings, Lexi, a blind mill dog rescue, Tater  Tot, a puppy mill dog, Gracie, a mill bred Maltese who chewed off her own leg to escape from being wrapped in wire and left to die, and Nicky, a 15-year old, blind cutie pie.

Noah and Nicky in their Muffins Halos

Noah’s days are busy. “We go into schools and talk to kids about everyone’s differences outwardly, but inside, we’re all the same,” Lisa Marie explained. “I remember this Goth boy in one school. By the time I was done sharing Noah’s puppy pictures and what puppy mills are really like, I looked up in the bleachers and saw this kid’s hand over his face and his make up smeared. It’s a powerful thing.”

Noah working in the schools

Lisa Marie and Noah raise money to buy books focused on bullying to take into schools. “Not long after getting Noah, we received our first $50.00 donation and went to the back, so Noah could open his own bank account.

Noah opening his bank account at Farmer’s Savings Bank

Noah and Lisa Marie have added nursing home visits into their mission, also to talk about bullying. “My goal is if Noah can make them take their minds off of their problems for two minutes, we’ve made a difference,” Lisa Marie said. “People are going into chemo with Noah’s picture.”

Noah with one of his ladies in the SiennaCrest Dementia Home

The Giveaway!

Are you inspired? There are so many powerful stories about dogs making huge differences in people’s lives. Muffin and Noah are great examples of legacies that will long outlive them.

Now, who wants to win a special, limited edition Muffin’s Halo calendar?!

To enter:

• If you aren’t already a member of the Bark & Swagger Family, join our email list.
• Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram
• Like Muffin’s Halo on Facebook
• Like Noah on Facebook
• Like SavingK9Lives on Facebook.

For more info on Muffin’s Halo, read my previous post here.

For more info on Saving K9 Lives Plus, go here.

All photos of Noah credited to Lisa Marie Edge, except those of Jasmin Gabay Kimball with Noah and Noah packed and ready to go; those credited to Rhoda Goodman.

All photos of Muffins Halos on dogs, except Noah, credited to Muffin’s Halo.

Do you know a blind dog a Muffin’s Halo could help? Pass this along!

Madonna, Miami Vice, Rubik’s Cube, the Queen of England, even the California Raisons were all creatively represented at the 12th annual New York Pet Fashion Show Presented by Tropiclean, which descended upon the Hotel Pennsylvania Thursday night, featuring 80s fashion styles in all their glory. The theme – Rescued by the 80’s –  begged camp, and participants took the bait, trying to outdo each other with outrageous designs. All proceeds from the evening went to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals and the 150 participating shelters and rescue groups under its umbrella.

Gregg Oehler, Rachel Grant & me!

Event co-Chair/co-Founders, Gregg Oehler and Ada Nieves, along with the evening’s emcee, Maria Milito of Q104.3 radio, kicked the night off with the Gold Paw Awards ceremony, honoring those who’ve made a difference in helping animals around the world.  I was honored to present to former Bond Girl, adventurer and activist, Rachel Grant, who was named Humanitarian of the Year for the work she’s doing to draw attention to rescue and adoption. Model and documentarian, Katie Cleary, was named Documentary Producer of the Year for her film, Give Me Shelter. Gifted lensman, Brad Oliphant, was honored with the Nature Photographer of the Year award, the Legacy Award went to Brock, the canine inspiration behind Pilots ‘n’ Paws, an amazing service that flies rescued dogs to safe havens and forever homes. The Excellence Award went to Last Chance Animal Rescue. Jennifer Bartok-Taylor of Celebrity Catwalk, Heidi Walker of Yorkies911 and Guardians of Rescue all received Special Achievement Awards for their work raising money for rescue and bringing attention to adopting.

The Pupscouts NYC Troop 4 founders, Susan Godwin and Jennifer-Jo Moyer, presented a check to the Mayor’s Alliance of NYC Animals and the org’s Stephanie Mattera accepted on behalf. Mattera also walked the runway, pushing a Katie’s Carriage design with rescue pups in outfits designed by Wendy Agramonte.

The Mayor’s Alliance’s Stephanie Mattera rocking it down the runway with a rescue pup

And, rescues weren’t just talked about, they were present and dressed to impress as they took to the runway. Dogs from Animal Care Centers, Eve’s Sanctuary, Little Shelter and others strutted their stuff,  dressed in creative, outrageous outfits.

Chews Happiness, a brand I love, showcased their beautiful dog and matching women’s sweaters.

Meeta and a rescue pup, modeling the gorgeous Chews Happiness matching yak wool sweater and shawl.

Ada Nieves’ Rainbow Fake Fur dog coat on Zsa Zsa, and Suzanne Boule’s own matching one made for a colorful display

Ada Nieves demonstrated her design prowess, creating several of the evening’s outfits, including the very cool Rainbow Fake Fur dog coat, inspired by the one Miley Cyrus wore to the ONE campaign bash in New York City and donned here by cutie patootie, Zsa Zsa. Mom, Suzanne Boulle, purchased her matching rainbow coat from the very designer in China who made Miley’s!

Karen Sanabria with Papi

Ada also displayed her versatility, designing a tiny, sequined dinner jacket for bearded dragon, Papi, owned by Karen Sanabria. Papi’s piece was inspired by the 80’s dinner jackets of Oleg Cassini, an early designer utilizing bling. I’m told Cassini blamed himself for the death of 250,000 leopards, killed due to the enormous popularity of a coat he created for Jackie Kennedy. He promptly eschewed real fur from then on, becoming one of the first major designers to create micro fiber faux fur garments in 1999.

Amy & Danny Cox, with Pearl, Penelope and Paco II, as Cali Raisons!

Another favorite of mine were the California Raisons, an ambitious ensemble designed by Amy Cox and created by Danielle Pursel of SewDogGoneCreative etsy shop. The costume was worn by Amy, her husband, Danny Cox, and three of their dogs – Yorkie Penelope, and Chihuahuas Paco II and Pearl. Pearl’s ornate gown was clever; the 80’s Marvin Gaye song title, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” was written across the back. Penelope’s gown had the words, “California Raisons” on it. The design was cohesive and fun and they deservedly placed in the costume contest.

Miguel Rodriguez with his muse, Venus, wearing his Christian Lacroix-inspired paper doilie design

For the couture runway show, the designer’s challenge was to create garments using no fabric at all, and the creativity of some of the creations was truly inspiring. Miguel Rodriguez used scalloped paper doilies, tape, feathers, paper flowers and paint to create a sumptuous, tiered gown, inspired by the haute couture of 80’s-era Christian Lacroix.

Joanna Aqua of New York-based, Pet Monarchy, chose the iconic, 80’s tv show, Dynasty, with all of its glamour, big jewelry and frills. What material did she choose to showcase her vision?  None other than frosted gold and pearly iridescent plastic shower curtains! Aqua included LED lighting and floating items in both the bodice and skirt, adding an expected and playful touch to the design. Very impressive! Modeling two complementing dresses she created were her muse Sphynx cat, Coco-Mau Aqua and 8-month old puppy, Leah.

Pet couturier, Anthony Rubio, channeling Miami Vice, with his pastel creations on Bogie & Kimba

Anthony Rubio of Anthony Rubio Designs, used dyed coffee filters to create little jackets in Pantone’s colors of the year – Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue – inspired by those worn by 80’s Miami Vice heart throbs, Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. Julie Lancaster of Off the Cuff Stuff for Pets, used buttons inspired by British fashion for her designs; Kevin Ugarte of Wow Wow Ugarte Collection used an expanse of aluminum foil to create a waterfall-like effect.

Kevin Ugarte with his muse, Princess, wearing his foil creation.

Ruben Santana of King Tut Pet Styling & Fashion, was ingenious with his use of colored pipe cleaners for his “The Coiled Jewel” design, inspired by the South Beach art deco revival of the 80’s. He also created another piece,  “Rubik’s Royal,” made from aluminum foil, styrofoam, paint and willow flowers, inspired by the world-famous Rubik’s Cube brain game.

The very talented Ruben Santana, dressed as Boy George, and his pups in his amazing designs

That game was a popular cultural one to mine, as Margaret Konecky of The Elegant Hare also chose it for her and rescue dog, Delilah’s gorgeous matching cashmere sweaters and little doggie tophat.

Margaret Konecky of The Elegant Hare in Rubik’s Cube-inspired cashmere matching outfits.
Photo credit: Judith H. Block

Delilah was a popular runway model, also walking with Olympic Gold Champion, Dominique Moceanu of Creations by C+C stunning human and pet jewelry designs, dressed in a black and hot pink homage to Cyndi Lauper.

Dominique Moceanu and rescue, Delilah, channeling Cyndi Lauper

And, a chicken (Lady Gaga) wore colorful tulle, inspired by Cyndi Lauper and created by Ada Nieves; a frog (Prince Charming) “walked” the runway in a carry on jar, hand painted in an 80’s theme by Nieves,   and a generous helping of felines also made appearances on on the runway.

Lady Gaga as Cyndi Lauper? I guess stranger things have happened!

One costume I loved depicting the Royal Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, another popular iconic choice, and three adorable girls (one of them a model for New York Fashion Week), dressed in red, sequined Royal Guards regalia, pushing the two kitties of honor in their royal carriage, down the catwalk.

Kitties getting married! Prince Charles & Princess Diana with the Royal Guards.

Some other notables included:

Rock ‘n’ roll, Madonna style, designed by Cheryl Keninger, worn by Debbie Nap, with matching design on Queen Guinevere.
Photo credit: Judith H. Block

Queen Guinevere in her matching design to her mom’s, designed by Cheryl Keninger.
photo credit: Judith H. Block

Ada Nieves design, inspired by NYC graffiti, reading “donate; New Yorkies.” Worn by Porshia Forster.

The Cabbage Patch Kids, designed and walked by Diane Lucci.

More Madonna! Terry St. Angelo and Nevada in matching cone bras, inspired by the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier design.

Karen Varley (designer) with her Pittie, Sugar, feeling very Billy Idol punk.

The evening closed with a Best of the 80’s Costume Contest, whereby anyone could enter with their own designs. Best in Show was awarded to Lynn Lina with her pup, Baxter, and Debbie Nap with her runway staple dog, Queen Guinevere, also recreating the Royal Wedding, with Queen Guinevere, portraying the Princess, walked by Diana’s mother and “Charles,” being walked by the Queen of England.  Lynn’s Queen was of the campy variety, and she played it to the hilt, entertaining the audience in grand style. Julie Lancaster, of Off the Cuff Stuff for Pets, designed all of the outfits in this winning ensemble.

The Winner’s Circle: l to r: winning designer, Julie Lancaster, Debbie Nap with Queen Guinevere, Lynn Lina with Baxter and Danny & Amy Cox.

As the last dog and human models left the runway, it seemed the four hour event had flown by in a whir of bright color, big hair, leg warmers, sequins, safety pins, shoulder pads and lots of fun. This was a great showcase for pet designer creativity, and I look forward to seeing what inspires unexpected genius next year!

For more information on the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals.

Do you do pet fashion? Weigh in in the comments!

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Photo shoot for NYC Dogswag magazine.
Photo credit: Jason Howard

Want to know what’s next on the pet fashion horizon? That’s the topic of the last week of pet couturier, Anthony Rubio’s, 5-week Just My Style residency on Bark & Swagger. Rubio is hard at work prepping for tonight’s New York Pet Fashion Show appearance, with the theme, Rescued by the 80’s. He’s chosen a Miami Vice fashion statement, a sneak peek into the making of it is below.

The New York Pet Fashion Show is tonight!

See Anthony’s turn on the runway, with Bogie & Kimba, as well as the other models, both human and hairy (and some not so hairy), designers and more, when I Periscope all 3 runway shows tonight, starting at 7:15pm EST. Follow me @barkandswagger on Periscope to experience the New York Pet Fashion Show runway LIVE!

For those who don’t know Periscope, it’s the newest social platform, owned by Twitter, specifically for your mobile device (iPhone or android). It’s live, streaming video – raw, in the moment, real. It’s a free downloadable app and it’s fun and really catching on.

So now, without further adieu, I give you Anthony Rubio and his insight into…What’s Next in Pet Fashion!

Week 5: What’s Next

by Anthony Rubio

Even brrr weather gear is bright, whimsical and fun.

It has been such a pleasure sharing so much with the readers of Bark & Swagger. In this, the fifth and final installment of my Just My Style series, I would like to give you some final thoughts and share my fashion predictions for the coming year.

The pet design industry is growing by leaps and bounds. While it is fun to create your very own design on your pet, there are certain garments I would leave to the experts. It is one thing to follow a simple pattern and believe me it is quite an achievement. To be able to get to the next level, for example creating a fitted tuxedo or ball gown, I would advise going for higher education. There is a great program for pet fashion, one of the very few in the world, at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Through my own education, I have learned to use tools that would take professional training. I do research and experiment with new materials and new ideas for design, and while they do not always pan out, when I have a break though, it feels quite exciting and fulfilling!

So what do I see on the horizon? I see canine fashion even more accepted and, in fact, expected world wide. Not only do I see dogs wearing fashion as a part of everyday style in owning a pet, but I see more of those on the cutting edge setting trends; street trends like with human fashion. I expect it to spread even more to other animals like cats, and even larger species like horses!

I envision pet fashion looking more stream-lined and classic, with sophistication, like you would see for human fashions by the likes of Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrera. I see pets being included as part of the traditional wedding party, even more than they are now. Imagine your dog carrying the wedding rings down the aisle or as a flower girl?

Kimba is shimmering in gold metallic, an enduring trend

Animal patterns will forever be in fashion. Modern looks lean in the direction of clean lines and metallic fabrics, taking its cue from minimalist concepts where less is more. In fashion, the sky is the limit. Any one can start a trend if they can spark the interest of others to follow.

Right now, I am experimenting with unconventional materials, just for fun. At this year’s New York Pet Fashion Show, I will have my boys, Bogie and Kimba, grace the catwalk in fashions inspired by the 80’s fashion theme of the evening. The designers were all thrown a curve ball. We were told the garments could not be made using any fabric!

Not one to turn down a good challenge (LOL),  I decided to create the material by dyeing coffee filters in this year’s Pantone colors of the year – Quartz Pink and Serenity Blue. Bogie and Kimba will conjure memories of the 80’s classic TV blockbuster, Miami Vice.

Anthony’s Miami Vice-inspired fashions for the New York Pet Fashion Show tonight

the making of…

I’m so excited to share I will be presenting at the 2016 fall/winter New York Fashion Week!  I’ll be showing women’s wear designed to coordinate or match their pets. Notice that it is the humans matching and or enhancing their pets. I hope to be able to share this experience, the actual show and how it is received here on Bark & Swagger.

I urge all of you to keep dressing your pets and do it with pride. Let’s together show the world how much we love our dogs and how we celebrate our wonderful relationships with them, through expressing their personalities through fashion.

Last but definitely not least: please please please spread the word, “Adopt Don’t Shop”. There is so much unconditional love waiting for that person who is willing to open their heart and their home to those who were left behind and have no voice. When a dog is adopted, they know that they have been chosen and that they are special. The rewards they bring are boundless and so fulfilling. You have not yet lived until you have experienced the love of a rescue.

Thank you for your time and I hope to come back again. Until then, keep up with Bark & Swagger!

♥                                             ♥                                          ♥

Thank you, Anthony and Bark & Swagger family for joining us on this Just My Style series. Stay tuned for a new Just My Style series launching soon! Until then, remember…when fierce fashion calls, Bark & Swagger! xxx

Miss Puglicious in a baby pink shag C-Shaped Bed

Today, it’s all about Home Decor because I have an exciting announcement to make! I’ve just added a NEW designer to the Boutique, the first in the Home Decor category! Custom dog beds is just the beginning. Want to know more? Read on!

Are you a Home Decor lover? Here’s how you know:

• when you pass a home goods store, you have to go in. Maybe you’ll find that thing you were looking for forever!
• your inbox is filled with emails from your favorite home accessories shops
• pillows, throws, decorative do dads get you excited
• you have to have your dog’s bed, blankets (sometimes even toys?) match your color/design scheme

If you’re nodding your head yes to any of these right now, we’re part of the same tribe! That’s why I’m so excited to have finally found a Home Decor brand I love enough to include in my Boutique. It’s called Puppy Hugger™ and Elaine Doran and her adorable Havanese, Zoey, are the founders and sole proprietors, creating high quality, beautiful beds, blankets, pet carrier inserts, crate pads and crate covers.

Albie in his new Puppy Hugger C-Shaped bed

Elaine was kind enough to make a bed for Albie, our little boy Chihuahua, so I could see and feel the quality of the piece and, can I just tell you, all the dogs keep stealing the little guys spot! It’s like Albie has to make a reservation to lay in his bed! That’s why I’ve just ordered three more, so each of my canine cuties has their own.

Here’s what I loved about the Puppy Hugger™ custom dog beds:

• the fabric choices are phenomenal and stunning. You won’t believe how many choices you’ll have.
• the fabric is super soft yet sturdy and all are machine washable and dryer safe (except the faux furs). You throw the entire bed in so it never loses its shape.
• there are several styles and lots of sizes, so there’s one that’s right for your dog, from a teacup to a titan (read on for more on the styles)
• you can choose 3 different fabrics for the Cloud Nine bed, so you can get really creative
• there are no zippers, tags or other things attractive to a puppy or a chronic chewer with which to get into trouble

Types of Puppy Hugger™ Products in the Boutique

Cloud Nine Bed – This is the opulent bed; the one that screams luxury. It’s a deliciously cozy haven for your pet. Substantial and elevated off the ground because of its gusset, it’s like your pup is climbing onto her throne, seriously. The Cloud Nine comes in 7 sizes, from XX-Small to Large, and X-Large in the Round and Rectangle shapes. Starts at $89.99 and goes up to $449.99.

C-Shaped Bed – Personally, I love this one and bought this style for my guys. Why? It’s got a retro looking vibe I like, and I love the shape; there’s nothing like it out there I’ve found. It’s perfect for my two Chihuahuas, who might have a hard time getting in and out of a Cloud Nine. It’s also perfect for puppies (same reason) and seniors, who won’t have to navigate a climb to get cozy. Also comes in lots of sizes, from Teacup at $119.99 to XX-Large, which fits up to a 90-lb dog, at $249.99.

Chief Inspector and Tester, Zoey, trying one out.

The Pet Carrier Snuggly Insert – This is such a great item to have on hand.  What’s better than turning your pet carrier, which may be fabulous on its own, into an even more fabulous den for your precious pooch? This insert is so soft and lush, it will make the experience of travel, whether near or far, a much more pleasant, stress free one. Then, pull it from the carrier and use as a nap pad for the little ones. The sky’s the limit with fabric and color choice, just like the beds. Comes in 2 sizes – X-Small (fits a 17″ x 8″ carrier) at $28.99 and Small (fits an 18″ x 12″ carrier) at $34.99. Perfection!

The Pet Blanket – Another must have item in the house, in the car or for travel. It’ll do double duty. It’s soft, comforting and warm, and will protect your furniture, bedding and car upholstery from sharp claws and shedding coats. It can second as a bed away from home or a very cozy, safe place to get toasty and relax. They run from XX-Small to X-Large and from $43.99 to $181.99. If you’ve seen how much high quality designer throws sell for, this is a great price. I love that about Elaine’s creations; value for money.

Our Valentine’s Day Special!

If you love what you see and would like to surprise your pup with a brand, new plush bone toy, you get one for FREE with the purchase of a Puppy Hugger™ bed, until February 18th. A great gift for you and your dog.

SHOP NOW.

How To Wash Your Puppy Hugger™ Bed & Other Products:

All of the Puppy Hugger™ products can be machine washed. Use Cold water/Delicate Cycle. Elaine suggests vacuuming off any loose hairs & bits of food before putting in the wash. She cautions against using top-loaders with agitators, because the agitator will damage the fabrics. She suggests visiting the Laundromat with anything too big for your home machine. Do not over-stuff items into the washer. There’s no need to add fabric softener, but if you want to, Elaine says no more than 1/2  teaspoon.

After washing, shake your faux fur items gently, reshape them & let them air dry. Anything that is made without faux fur can go in the dryer, lowest setting and remove while slightly damp. No dryer sheets.

Then, just a gentle shake and your Puppy Hugger™ will spring right back into shape. For faux furs, once air dried, shake off any loose hairs, then gently comb with a wide-toothed dog comb to finish and, voila! A gorgeous bed, once again.

In Summary

I spent the past few months looking for the right home decor brand to feature in the Bark & Swagger Boutique and, in Puppy Hugger™, I’ve found it. Great style, great quality, great choices, great value for your money. I hope this post has been a helpful introduction to Puppy Hugger™!

What’s important to you in a dog bed?

SHOP MY CHOICE

Are you ready for the Super Bowl 50? I know my husband is! Game day snacks, clearing the schedule, Carolina Panthers vs. the Denver Broncos…you know the drill. But, there are two other family members also getting excited about the big game and they’ve taken the initiative to dress for the occasion! OK, so mom took the initiative, but, details, details. 🙂 I’m talking Super Bowl clothing, friends!

Does Super Bowl clothing make the dog or does the dog make the Super Bowl  clothing?

While mom has fashion on the brain (I mean, why shouldn’t Super Bowl be an opportunity to dress?), Sophie and Jasper had their own designs on the upcoming event. Read on to follow their little story in pictures, and for my tip on great sports fashion gear!

Super Bowl Dreaming. Who should we root for? Better ask daddy.

My friend and pet industry colleague, DeAnna McKillip, has a cool company called K9 Carry All. What started as a brand making the K9 Carry All  pet stroller, where you could also carry your packages as well as your pet, has expanded over the years to include custom logo leashes, collars, sports jerseys, hair bows, toys and more.

DeAnna and I got to talking at the Women in the Pet Industry Network conference last August, and thought it would be fun to create some special Bark & Swagger sports fashion gear, especially for Super Bowl Sunday. How do you think it turned out? DeAnna even threw a plush bone toy in, which the kids love. Thanks, DeAnna!

We were so excited to get this package of goodies from K9 Carry All, and dragged mom all the way to the park so we could wear it for pictures

I’ll tell you what I love about these jerseys. They are silky soft, lightweight and have great breathability, with perforated fabric used for the front and back panels. And, how cute is the pink tutu? It’s three-tiered, using two shades of pink and it shimmers! The tutu is attached with velcro, so you can take it off to wash the jersey. And, our logo is on both sleeves, with a cute NFL logo patch on the back neckline.

The logo printing came out looking crisp and neat; I would definitely do more of this with DeAnna’s company!

Trouble in paradise!

Uh oh, shamed! What happens when bae catches a bitch flirting, and gives her the stink eye. Jasper, better watch out. Remember, there’s nothing as powerful as a woman scorned!

My top pick for Super Bowl fashion is this. If you’re a corporate brand, or you’re having an event or party and want to create something special and fun as a take away, reach out to DeAnna and she can make it for you!

Get more info on K9 Carry All.

All’s well that ends well…

Once again, love wins and Sophie and Jasper set to yakking it up in pre-game excitement. Who are you rooting for?

fin. 🙂

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XII is coming up. Last year, Bark & Swagger went behind the scenes to bring you a sneak peek at all the cuteness. Enjoy!

Does your dog dress for the Super Bowl?

Pretty in plaid; Bogie modeling an Anthony Rubio design on the runway

When was the last time a world-famous pet designer showed you how to create a garment? In Week 4 of our five week series, Just My Style, pet couturier to the stars, Anthony Rubio, is bringing DIY to your door. And, he’s sourced a great pattern and tutorial, guiding us with his seasoned wisdom. A big thank you to Erika and Sebastian of SewDoggyStyle.com for their great DIY pattern! Are you ready?

Then, grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable and let’s get started crafting!

Just My Style: Week 4 – DIY

by Anthony Rubio

How To Make a Basic Dog Coat

A winter coat design from a Rubio collection.

If you’re handy with a pair of scissors, needle and thread and would like to create something special for your four-legged companion, here is a craft to try. It is so simple and, more important, not intimidating. It would also make a great first craft for you to try with your kids.

While I have developed my own patterns, they are complicated for the novice. I want you to be successful! Sew…(pun intended :-)), I researched a great pattern and step-by-step tutorial for you, with a link below. The site is called Sew Doggy Style and they make it fun and insightful!

Once you’ve made your pattern, I’ll walk you through the rest of the project. 

To Begin:

The first piece of advice I’d give you is to always read through the instructions completely to make sure you want to take on any project. Don’t try short cuts, because they do not guarantee good results. Haste makes waste.

What supplies will I need?

In dog fashion, it always starts with a good pattern. For this part of the project, all you’ll need are a few household items:

• a paper bag
• a pen
• a ruler
• scissors
• Oh, and a dog!

That’s it! As I’m sitting here sewing my heart out for my second New York Fashion Week runway show on February 14th, working only with a bag, pen, ruler and scissors sounds like a lot of fun! LOL!

Once your pattern is complete and you move on to working with your fabric, you’ll need:

• markers
• straight and safety pins
• velcro (choose a width of velcro that makes sense for the size of the dog. You also have the option to cut the velcro lengthwise, if it’s too wide)
• a sewing machine

How To Choose Your Fabric

I love that, on the Sew Doggy Style site, they chose to recycle an old shirt. When training pets to feel secure, taste and scent are very important. By using a recycled shirt, the fabric will have your scent, and that will make your dog feel secure with what you put on him/her.

If you’re not going to do that, I’d recommend going to your local fabric store and seeking out remnants, which are usually on sale or discounted. This is your first project, so there’s no need to splurge until you have practiced and made a prototype. 

Remember that this is for a dog. You’ll want to consider a sturdy, washable fabric, but choose something you love, so that each time you look at it, it makes you smile.

Making The Dog Coat Pattern

Here are the step by step instructions to make the dog coat pattern from Sew Doggy Style.

Measurement Instructions:
1. First measure around dog’s neck and add one inch (this is for the velcro). Sebastian is a 12, so 13 is good.
2. Measure along back from base of neck to base of tail. Sebastian is a 10.
3. Determine desired length of jacket in front of neck. 3″ long is perfect for Sebastian’s size.
4. Measure completely around mid-tummy/lower chest and back area. Sebastian is a 15.

Belly Strap – This can be as thick or as thin as you want. We did ours at 2.5″ wide. To determine how long it should be, follow below photo instructions.

And after you get your belly strap piece drawn, we’ll be adding 1/4″ seam allowance around both pieces.

Now you are ready to cut out your pieces.
You’ll want to do a tester! You can use fabric or another paper bag for this.

Staple belly straps (one on each side) of main body. This is a good time to determine where exactly you want the straps to go…i.e., more higher or lower under the belly depending on your dog. Belly straps will later have velcro and will overlap each other.

Then place the tester on your dog for a fitting. I used tape to temporarily hold the neck and belly together .

Sebastian laying down on the modeling job

Once Your Tester is Done

Now, it’s time to sew the pattern pieces together into your coat. You’ll need a sewing machine for this part. Here’s a step by step tutorial from Erika of Sew Doggy Style on how to put the pieces together.

Embellishments, anyone?

I love glamour! An Anthony Rubio past design.

If you know my fashion, you know embellishments are a big part of what I do. When it comes to decorating your finished coat, the sky is the limit! However,  I do caution using any dangling or loosely attached decorations. Keep in mind that this is a living creature, and that curiosity may cause the dog to want to pick at, bite off or scratch off that decoration, which they can then chew and or swallow. You don’t want an emergency trip to the vet to be a part of this experience! I recommend appliqués, iron on or sew on patches, trims and well sewn on buttons. You can go crazy and have fun, creating themes like military, rock star, glamour!

Sequins for a cause: Kimba & Bogie represent at the Susan B. Komen breast cancer fundraiser, Your Dog Is Worth it….For The Cure Foundation.

Remember,  if it’s comfortable, the dog will proudly wear it. If you bombard the design with crazy items like bells or dangling effects, you might spook the dog and  he/she may resist wearing your creation.

Follow Sew Doggy Style for more fun DIY projects for your dog!

Tune in next Thursday for the final week of Anthony Rubio’s Just My Style series, where he’ll give us a sneak peek into what’s coming next in the dog fashion world!

Do you DIY? What’s your most favorite project?

Hearts, flowers and jewelry are all well and good (we know they are!), but in this overly caffeinated world, there’s nothing like a bit of slowing down and pampering; are you with me? And our good friends at dog fashion spa know what we mean. In addition to their natural, beautifully crafted health & beauty products for dogs, they also have some very cute accessories and home decor – Yay! Today, in honor of all things love and the quest for the perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for dogs, dog fashion spa and Bark & Swagger have a sweet offer for you.

It’s cold outside, and while we like to come in and curl up in our favorite robe, our pups might, too. There’s this really adorable pink terry cloth robe, see…don’t worry, moms and dads of little boys, it also comes in a warm cream, with a green pop of collar trim. It’s cozy, warm and a must have for a proper Valentine’s Day pampering session. And, while your pooch is keeping warm, they can also get their nose and paws moisturized with one of my favorite dog fashion spa products.

How yummy does this look?!

Living Stylishly Dog Fashion – A Must Have!

When you purchase a robe between now and February 7th in the Bark & Swagger Boutique, dog fashion spa will include their popular nose + paw moisturizer for free! I think we’re on our 5th or 6th applicator of the stuff; we love it! The dogs’ pads are soft and smell so nice after we use. And, we know how important it is to keep our dogs’ paws in great shape. They use them for such important things like ridding their bodies of excess heat, for balance, for traction and more. My advice, though? Have an extra on hand, since you won’t want to moisturize their nose with the same roll on you use for their feet, right?

The dog’s robe costs $34.00 and is made from the finest, softest 100% cotton

Moms, there’s stylish fashion for you, too!

Does getting something to match your little baby make you smile? Then, you’re in luck! Bark & Swagger and dog fashion spa are offering a women’s spa robe to match your pooch and its just arrived in the Boutique! Also made from the highest quality, 100% cotton, this robe is soft, luxurious and perfect after a warm shower or for lounging around the house, you reading the paper and Fifi or Fido curled up next to. Now, that’s a cozy picture, especially at this time of year.

Let’s go shopping!

This offer from Bark & Swagger and dog fashion spa expires end of day on February 7, so if you want to claim it, go for it! Redeem this offer!

Go to Women’s Spa Robe.

Lest you think dogs are the only ones who thoroughly enjoy this luxurious robe, check out the cuteness overload just below, wearing my fave pink version, with a gorgeous, hand-beaded Just Fur Fun matching collar and leash.

Stayed tuned right here for more Valentine’s Day specials for my Bark & Swagger family. The next one is all about Home Decor, and includes the Boutique’s first foray into the space!

What does your pup want for Valentine’s Day?