Excited to announce we have a winner in the Bark and Swagger Animal Planet Dog Easter Basket Giveaway! Victoria Carter scored the most points and took the prize. She’s be surprising her four pups, Willow, Chloe, Hank and Putt-Putt with Easter goodies, including toys, treats and fun grooming products. Congratulations, Victoria!

Willow, Chloe, Hank
& Putt-Putt

Thank you Animal Planet for sponsoring the giveaway and providing an Easter Basket to the winning contestant. Thank you, Bark and Swagger readers, for entering. Couldn’t do it without you! 🙂 I’ve just launched a great, new giveaway to win a fully-stocked PetBox for your dog or cat. You can read about it here.

I love getting a surprise in the mail, don’t you? It’s fun to open the box, peel away the tissue and see what’s inside. If it’s a present for Sophie, she knows. She’s rocking that little tush back and forth, ears perked expectantly, eyes wide, as if to say, ‘Me? That’s for me? Quick! Open it, Mom!’ So, imagine how much fun it would be to get a cool assortment of treats, toys and accessories for your baby every month. PetBox offers a goodie box to howl about, and you can have it your way.

PetBox were kind enough to send us a sample box, which had some great stuff, including a plush toy Sophie really likes, a bottle of Vetericyn Wound and Skin Care that may come in handy and a bunch of treats. But what I really like about PetBox is, I can leave it to them to curate the box, or I can choose exactly what I’d like myself. Because I’ve very particular about what I give Sophie, with her sensitive tummy, if I want only certain treats or no treats at all, I can do that! And they have so many great products, some I’m already a fan and customer of, that each month Sophie wouldn’t be the only one anticipating the arrival of her treasure chest! 🙂  With options like dog fashion spa luxury skin care and scent products, which I love love; Earth Heart Canine Calm, which works well for Sophie and Earth Heart Guard Well, a completely natural immune system booster made from high quality botanicals, PetHub all in one pet safety identification and location tags, plus lots of fun toys, Sophie and I are in doggy/mom bliss. 

How it works

When you become a monthly subscriber, the folks at PetBox want to learn all about your pet. Do you have a dog or cat? How big or small? It’s gender and what he or she likes. If you are going to curate your pet’s box, you choose the number of products based on a point system, with 6 points to a box. Each individual item is 1 or 2 points, so you get between 4-6 items per box. The value of the box is never less than $50.00 retail. You have the option to curate or let PetBox curate your baby’s box each month. There are several  plans to choose from, starting as low as $29.00/month, which is pretty on par with other services of this kind. And they have free shipping within the U.S., which is awesome. And what’s even better is, with every one shipped, PetBox feeds a rescue animal, and partners with a variety of shelters and rescue programs to care for neglected animals throughout the country. Yay! They even host a special #PetBoxFridays program on social media, where the social media community gets to nominate shelters to receive that week’s shipment of food and supplies. PetBox has teamed up with BOGO Bowl to supply hundreds of pounds of food to shelters and rescues each week. We love that!

With so much goodness to be had here, it would be very selfish of us to keep this all to ourselves. Bark and Swagger readers, welcome to the PetBox Giveaway! PetBox is sponsoring this giveaway and will be earmarking a PetBox for a Bark and Swagger winner!

The giveaway will run from today, April 14 until Friday, April 25th. If you just can’t wait for your pup or kitty’s PetBox, you can start your monthly subscription right away by clicking the photo or PetBox link above.

How Sophie looked when she got her PetBox

‘Scuse me, but what’s in the box?

Your PetBox will include a yummy assortment of dog or cat treats, depending on which pet(s) you have, as well as appropriate toys and accessories. And the winner can choose exactly what’s in the box! An example of what’s available to you includes treats from Honest Kitchen, Sojo and CloudStar, so they are healthy ones. For toys, there’s a great selection including Aussie Naturals and Unique Petz, and grooming/accessories include Organic Aloe Vera Shampoo, John Paul Pet Ear and Eye Wipes, and the dog fashion spa, PetHub and Earth Heart products I mentioned above. That’s just a sampling; there’s lots more.

How to enter:

It’s easy and you generate extra points for each item you do!

1) Join the SwagTeam by entering your name and email address to the purple email list banner in the right sidebar. Not too difficult, right? 

2) Like the Bark and Swagger Facebook page and post or tweet the message below about the giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter page:

Win a goodie box to howl about from #PetBox at #BarkandSwagger valued at $50. #giveaway #giveaways

3) Please supply your mailing address. This is to ensure we get the winner their PetBox asap. Your address will not be used if you don’t win, and the winner’s will only be shared with our PetBox rep, who will be mailing out your prize.

That’s it!

Once entered,  a random winner will be selected through GiveawayTools.com and I will email that person the good news!

Rules of the giveaway:

* no Bark and Swagger family member may enter

* must be 18 years or older

* must live in the U.S.

So, don’t delay! Get in on the goodies. Do we love anything more than to make our babies happy? It’s the best kind of high. 🙂

What are your pup’s favorite kinds of treats or toys? Tell me in the Comments below.

Prince Lorenzo & Belle
photo courtesy of Royal Pet Club

It starts with a pet who changes your life. For Prince Lorenzo Borghese, of the royal Borghese family and The Bachelor fame, it started with Belle, a black Lab pup gifted to him on his 21st birthday. The “it” I’m referring to is an inspiring journey where he’d witness unspeakable abuses and be a part of soul-stirring happy endings; a journey that would require him to roll up his sleeves and get into the trenches to fight for something he believed in. The battlegrounds were animal abuse, kill shelters and puppy mills. The victories are each and every dog saved from death row, and each battle won to end kill shelters and puppy mills for good. This is what Prince Lorenzo has dedicated his life to doing. And, he’s making his presence felt. His vehicle? Animal AID USA, an extraordinary not-for-profit rights and rescue agency. And, it’s his Royal Treatment Pet Products, a truly gorgeous line of organic herbal shampoos, conditioners and spray mists for dogs, that is helping to pave the way.

Lorenzo and his team of animal angels are currently saving 120 dogs a month, every month,  through Animal AID USA. But, how did a privileged prince, who could be donating money to others to do this work, come to be a significant soldier in this battle? Here’s his story, the story of his pet products and of the organization that makes it all worthwhile.

Where it began

Royal Treatment

Lorenzo grew up with lots of pets. In France, where he lived until he was 7, his family had guinea pigs and goldfish. When he moved to New Jersey, that family grew to include dogs, cats, parrots, lovebirds, even a newt! So, he was very comfortable around animals, but it took getting Belle to connect him to a passion for animals that would drive his life.

Belle had skin problems. After a trip to the vet, where he was told he bathed her too often, he started thinking, ‘Why should regular bathing be detrimental to a dog?’ He began researching and discovered that most shampoos on the market did more harm than good. The ingredients were drying, that’s why vets were warning their clients not to bathe more than once a month. That didn’t sit too well with Lorenzo, and he consulted his mother and brother, who have a cosmetic line called Perlier. When your family has been in the cosmetics business for over 50 years, you’ve got connections. Lorenzo found people to help him formulate a special shampoo and conditioner for Belle, based on what he had researched, using the finest herbs from Italy and all organic ingredients. After trying it out, he noticed that not only did her skin improve dramatically, but her coat was shiny and soft. He knew he was on to something really good. So he set out to create different herbal formulas and scents, that would satisfy the varied needs of a dog’s skin and coat. He launched the Royal Treatment Italian Pet Spa in 2003 on the television shopping channel HSN.

Today, Royal Treatment offers close to 100 pet-friendly products for dogs, with delicious scents like Organic Fresh Current & Blackberry, Organic Italian Pink Grapefruit and Mediterranean Sea Breeze. Coming soon will be a natural tear stain removal wipe that is also a brightener, and a natural flea & tick repellent. Lorenzo donates 5% of annual profits and $2.00 for every new customer to Animal AID USA. I’d heard about Royal Treatment from my daughter, who raved about the products she’d tried on her dog. Lorenzo was kind enough to send us a bottle of the Honey Oatmeal Shampoo and  corresponding conditioner. This is the formulation for dry, sensitive skin, which is an issue Sophie has,  so I was interested to see how it worked.

The first thing I noticed was how gorgeous the shampoo smelled,  like real honey and oatmeal, and how rich it was. When I looked at the ingredients, organic honey and organic oatmeal are the first two. There’s nothing in there that isn’t truly natural. I’ve used it twice now, and her coat is shiny, her skin is soft and the dryness is going away. She’s itching much less,too. I”m going to continue using them and will keep you posted on how it’s going.

I want to share these beautiful products with you, so Prince Lorenzo has generously offered Bark and Swagger readers a special promo code for a 15% discount on Royal Treatment products. Just enter the code BARKANDSWAGGER during check out to receive your discount, and please tell me how you like the products! And, because Lorenzo is contributing $2.00 to Animal AID USA for each new customer, you’ll be doing a good deed in the process.

Click here for your discount!

Animal AID USA

With his focus on Belle and his growing business,  Royal Pet Club (the umbrella under which Royal Treatment falls), Lorenzo was now immersed in the world of all things dog. His awareness of those who were suffering was also growing, and he got involved with a number of animal advocacy organizations, like the American Humane Association, for which he became  an ambassador in 2011, and Animal Care & Control of New York City, in which he is co-founder of NYC4ACC, a group of young professionals who organize fundraisers for this city shelter.

“When you walk into a shelter where the dogs are all about to be euthanized and they’re looking at you, dying to get out, they’re barking, wagging their tails and they’re helpless,” he describes. “Looking into their eyes, I want to take home every one of them, but know I can’t. Then, all of a sudden, I met Karen Talbot and everything changed.”

Karen was running an organization she’d started a few years earlier called M.O.M.S. (Making Of Miracle Stories) Animal Rescue. Talbot wrote to Lorenzo asking for help with her cause.  At first, he thought she was another person just asking for money, but as he read on, he became  intrigued by how hard she worked to save animals from kill shelters. “I wanted to help Karen because I’ve never met anyone so devoted to rescuing animals,” Lorenzo explains. “She’s not a wealthy person and I think her husband, Dante, is in debt with five or six credit cards by now. Yet, these guys manage to rescue about 100 dogs a month on their own bank account.” To give you an even better idea of Karen’s commitment to animals, instead of a wedding ring, Dante purchased Karen a transportation vehicle. For vacations, they don’t fly off to a place in the sun. Instead, they spend their time in cars, driving down to Georgia to rescue animals. That was all Lorenzo needed to hear. For him, he’d found his partner and, in January of 2012,  Animal AID USA was born.

The agency is made up of a group of volunteer animal lovers who receive no monetary compensation. Members drive more than 1,600 miles each month in order to relocate animals from high-kill shelters to partnering rescue organizations and forever homes. In addition to finding homes for animals at risk, Animal Aid USA raises money to fund spay and neuter programs in low income communities and raise awareness of the legal cruelties happening daily in the U.S.. One of its key missions is to help eradicate the gas chamber, and Lorenzo and Karen found their angel “mascot” in a beagle mix named Grace. Grace was the only one of seven dogs who survived the gas chamber at a Georgia facility one day. Her plight led to the passing of Grace’s Law, which banned the use of the gas chamber for euthanizing dogs in that state. Inspired by her story,  Animal AID USA thought it fitting to name its caravan of hope after her. Aptly dubbed the “Amazing Grace Caravan,” it makes a monthly journey from New Jersey to Georgia, where it picks up dogs destined for death and delivers them to a new life. It also takes promotional treks down the east coast, making stops along the way to educate people about the cruelty of the gas chamber and to advocate for legislation to banish them. Other causes Animal AID is proactively engaged in includes the cruel and painful  intracardiac injection without anasthesia (another means of euthanasia), and abolishing puppy mills.

Grace & the Amazing Grace Caravan
photo courtesy of Animal AID USA

Last summer, Grace celebrated a momentous occasion. She got married! In a formal doggy I do’s ceremony, Grace wed fellow gas chamber survivor, Daniel, another beagle mix who has become a canine celebrity advocating across the country to end gas chambers, with his dad, Joe Dwyer.

The Miracle Ranch

Animal AID co-founder,
Karen Talbot
photo courtesy of Animal AID USA

In 2012, Lorenzo and Karen purchased land in Long County, Georgia, and dubbed the site the Miracle Ranch. It’s purpose would be as a safe place to quarantine and vet dogs who were rescued, before their journey up north. Adults and children worked side-by-side volunteering on the ranch and things were going great. Unfortunately, a contingent of locals were unhappy and let their discontent be known, leading to the recent closing of Miracle Ranch.  I asked Lorenzo what happened. “I think some of the locals didn’t like the idea of northerners coming into their town and saving their dogs,” he explained. “Also, a few neighbors complained about the barking. They got a motion to kick us out, but before that ever came to pass, a couple of locals got aggressive, to the point of shooting guns. Karen and I decided, for the safety of the volunteers, including children, and the dogs, that it was best to shut it down.” Sad, but when one door closes, another often opens.  As of a couple of months ago, Lorenzo and Karen have found another location in Georgia, where the locals are welcoming them with open arms.  Until funds permit them to launch a full scale facility, Ware County, Georgia’s Okefenokee Humane Society will house and vet the dogs prior to their journey, and Animal AID‘s equipment and resources will greatly supplement the work of Ware County’s animal rescue efforts.

The Animal AID Club

It’s up to our children to take this message of compassion, kindness and advocacy forward. Teaching them how to treat animals from a young age is key. So, Animal Aid formed the Animal Aid Club, which is dedicated to helping abandoned pets through the school system. With downloadable lesson plans from the American Humane Association’s Humane Education Resources for Professionals,  an entertaining Readers theatre play for students to perform, and access to an inspiring rescue documentary called “Take Me Home,” Animal Aid Club gives kids all the materials needed to start a club in their communities and share this message with their friends and neighbors. “By providing children with the education, awareness and resources, we are empowering them to make change in their world for shelter animals,” emphasized Karen Talbot.

Once you read about Animal AID USA‘s accomplishments and, as important, the volunteers who are its heart, I think you’ll agree it’s an organization doing amazing work. Here’s a powerful video of all they do. It truly does take a village:

Chloe’s Story

I asked Lorenzo is there was a rescue story that particularly resonated with him. He told me about Chloe. Chloe is a pitbull mix who’s owner tried to run her over. Nice, right? He was arrested and a court date was set. Chloe was cooling her heels at the Liberty Animal Control in Georgia, a kill shelter, where animals in these circumstances are kept until the fate of the owner is decided. Her cage was so tiny, she could barely stand. And, it was filthy with cockroaches. When Lorenzo opened the door, Chloe was so terrified of humans, she just cowered in the corner. He had to do something, so he asked what it would take to get Chloe released. He was told that, if it wasn’t for the pending court date, she would’ve been euthanized already. But the only way to get her released, was to have the charges against this man dropped. Nothing is ever cut and dry simple. Lorenzo thought it was better to get Chloe out of there to safety, than to see this man prosecuted. He arranged to have the police come down, got the charges dropped, and took Chloe up north. She was adopted immediately. Today, Chloe is a  happy, well-adjusted pup. “She’s probably one of the most affectionate dogs I’ve ever met,” Lorenzo shared. The power of love in transforming a dog who was terrified of humans.

Are you up for a challenge?

I’m passionate about animals, and I think Bark and Swagger readers are, too. Once I knew what Lorenzo and Karen were doing, I became a monthly donor. I’m sure what I can afford each month isn’t going to move mountains for them, but every bit helps and it really does all add up.

Because everyone involved with Animal AID are volunteers, there’s really no overhead. All the money raised goes towards saving dogs. The average cost to save a dog through Animal AID is roughly $50. Just $50 to save one pup’s life! Do you know what the average cost to save a life through a large organization is? About $500. We have an amazing and affordable opportunity.

So, here’s my challenge to you. Let’s save a dog!  If we do this together, we can make even more of a difference. For each of us that donates $50 to the Save A Dog Challenge, you will undoubtedly feel great about what you just did. An extra bonus, is Animal AID  will post your picture and give you a shout out on Facebook, and you’ll receive a photo of the dog you saved, so you can put a face to your donation and know this particular dog is on its way to a good life. You can also post the pic, tweet about it, and generally tell the world you’ve become an Animal AID sponsor and show the dog’s life you just saved. Pretty cool, right?  If $50 is a bit of a stretch, no worries. Donate what you can. $35.00 provides food, vaccines, worming and flea protection for one dog. Any amount you can do will help. Click on the Animal AID banner just below to donate.

DONATE HERE

In Summary

Prince Lorenzo Borghese, Karen  Talbot and the team of amazing volunteers who work with them are truly walking the walk of animal rescue. The conscious and caring movement of animal lover volunteers they have created is making a difference every day for innocent dogs who, by no fault of their own, have found themselves in a kill shelter.  If you didn’t need a box of tissues watching the video above, I went through enough for us both. 🙂 When I see something like this, I feel like I want to get on the Amazing Grace Caravan  and do something. Until that day, I can donate to the cause and help spread the word.

Animal AID’s team of volunteers
photo courtesy of Animal AID USA

Do you have a rescue story? I’d love to hear it in the Comments below.

Genius Dog

Brainteasers for dogs…what’s that? Is it like Spot’s Sudoku? Is it a doggy crossword? Well, sort of. Nina Ottosson is the first lady of intelligent dog toys;  games and puzzles that challenge your pup’s brain. She has this philosophy: a dog has four legs and one brain. All five need exercise. I can tell you, when Sophie is bored, look out. There’s mischief lurking! So, I think there’s a lot to be said for stimulating a dog’s brain, as well as it’s body.

How many ferrets does it take to play DogSmart?
photo courtesy of NinaOttosson.com

Nina’s interactive dog games and puzzles are all treat-based, so if you have a food-motivated dog, you’re in luck! They range in difficulty to appeal to a wide range. And, they aren’t just for dogs. Believe it or not, Ottosson’s games can be played with cats, ferrets, parrots, even monkeys and lizards (check out the ferret playing one!). So, whether you have a Forrest Gump or an Einstein, there’s one that’s right for you.

I visited Nina’s booth at Global Pet Expo recently, and got the scoop on what’s new. She was kind enough to offer us games to try with Sophie, so I’m going to include our experience here. We were already familiar with a couple of Ottosson’s earlier toys; we had the DogFinder, a big favorite of Sophie’s and the DogTwister, which she didn’t really get, bless her. Nina sent us the new, updated  DogTwister, the DogCasino and three levels of MixMax Puzzles.

I also interviewed Nina, because I wanted to know more about how her games address everyday challenges we face with our dogs, how to properly play the games, and how our dog’s personalities indicate which games they’ll excel in or how good they are at games, period.

All of Nina’s games and puzzles are rated in ascending order of difficulty from Level 1 – 4, with 1 recommended for beginners, puppies, older dogs and those difficult to motivate; Level 2 for most dogs; Level 3 for dogs that need extra mental stimulation and are the “smart” dogs and Level 4 for very advanced, highly energetic and smart pups. If you’re interested in getting Nina’s games or puzzles for your dog, hopefully this will help you in determining which ones might be right for you.

Let the games begin!

Friends playing DogFinder
photo courtesy of gopetfriendlyblog.com

The DogFinder – Sophie absolutely loves this toy! We’ve had it for a while now, and play it regularly. Every time I take it out of the box, she goes wild. The premise is there are plastic dog bone cups that fit upside down into tracks on the board. Treats are placed under some or all of the cups, and the dog has to figure out how to lift them out of the tracks to access the treats. The challenge is that some of the bones can’t be lifted out until another of the bones is lifted first. Sophie now understands that if she paws furiously at the blocks, they will come out and she’ll get the treat. Is there any finesse involved? No. Does she get the job done? Absolutely! This is rated a Level 2 game.

The DogTwister – There’s an older, wooden version of this game and a new, updated plastic version. Sophie liked the updated, plastic version. The game is a disc with triangular blocks set into it, under which you can hide treats. Sophie had to move one block after another in a circle, in either direction, to access the treats underneath. The blocks can be locked in position by a bone-shaped peg on the upside of the game, to make it more challenging. She is just learning how to move the blocks around, so we haven’t tried it with the pegs yet. This game is rated Level 3.

The DogCasino – This is a fun toy that is rapidly becoming a favorite of hers. There are trays around the perimeter the board, with little “handles” on them. Treats are hidden in the trays, and when Sophie pulls them out with her paws, she can access the goodies. The challenge is you can place plastic bone pegs into the board near each tray, that will lock that tray in place.  This was a very challenging toy for her. Nina recommended we start by learning how to open the trays, which Sophie did. She hasn’t figured out that the bone pegs release the trays or how to get them out.  Sophie is still having tons of fun just opening all the trays to find her treats. This is rated Level 3.

The MixMax Puzzles (Levels 1-4) – These are new to Nina’s stable of toys, and the cool thing about them is they can be played individually, or attached to one another to create a big activity board. We started with the Level 1 puzzle, called the MixMax Puzzle A. These puzzles are about learning how to move the little inverted cups around the board and get them out to access the treats. As the levels increase, the pathways to remove the cups become more challenging to access, requiring Sophie to manipulate movable pieces on the board as well as the little cups. We received levels A – C in difficulty, with C being the equivalent of a Level 3 game, but we haven’t progressed past A, yet. Oh, dear… 🙂

Here’s one of Nina’s videos showing how to play the DogWorker game:

After experiencing the games with Sophie, I had points of reference to ask about how the dogs learn.

The Interview

BaS: What were the first toys you created and why?

Nina and a game tester tackling a MixMax Puzzle
photo courtesy of NinaOttosson.com

N.O.: The Treat Ball, also called Qulan, the DogSmart and the DogSpinny in wood were the first, because they address the basics and are games the dogs can easily handle. Moving the ball to find treats, knocking out pegs or spinning the disc, they could do that. In 1989 and ’90, I had given birth to my children, so my two dogs weren’t getting as much exercise. I felt guilty about it! That was my motivation to create the toys.

BaS: How can the games solve everyday behavior issues we have with our dogs?

N.O.: The games help owners connect with their dogs in a meaningful way.  I’ve found that using them can help with destructive behaviors. Boredom is the key to problem dogs. If owners allowed the dog to use its brain for a minimum of 15 minutes each day, in addition to physical exercise, of course, we should’t have as many problem dogs as we have today.The games help with focus, discipline because you can tell the dog to wait for your cue before beginning to play and were designed to tap into their natural hunting instincts.

BaS: With senior dogs, it’s probably good to keep the brain active, too, right?

N.O.: Absolutely, yes! My two senior dogs have stayed very sharp and active playing the games. It’s been great for them. Also, when my dog was injured, I put the game on a chair and was able to keep her stimulated when she couldn’t go out and run.

BaS: What about  puppies, who have short attention spans. How long a period do you recommend playing a game?

N.O.: For a puppy, I’d recommend starting at about ten weeks old, and only playing for ten to fifteen minutes per session. But, it also depends on the dog. If it’s a border collie, they can probably do it a little longer. For most puppies, taking breaks is important, because they can’t concentrate for very long, like kids. So, after ten or fifteen minutes, take one and then you can do another session.

BaS: You mention Border Collies can go a bit longer. We’re been told they are a very intelligent breed. What other breeds have you found to be able to handle more challenging games?

N.O.: Australian shepherd dogs, other herding dogs and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. They have a lot of energy and are very smart. If they aren’t mentally exercised, they will find other things to do you might not like!

BaS: Who are your product testers?

A Nina game tester working out DogTwister
photo courtesy of NinaOttosson.com

N.O.: I actually have a 2-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Thea, who is a great tester. I also have two Bouvier des Flandres, a breed I love and have been breeding for over 30 years now. My two, Nessa and Velle,  have been brought up playing the games. I also have a small family dog, Elsa, a Poodle/Papillon mix, who does some testing, too.

BaS: On the average, how much time does it take a dog to learn a toy?

N.O.: It depends on what level you start on. If you start on a lower level, it may take ten minutes for the dog to learn how to play. But, if you start on a difficult level, it could take a long time. I compare it to crossword puzzles. If it’s a very difficult one, we can’t do it. If it’s manageable, we can do it and try one more difficult next time. It’s the same for a dog.

BaS: I noticed you have a collaboration with Dognition, the company that determines what personality type your dog has through exercises you do with them. Sophie did the Dognition exercises. I actually did a story on it for Bark and Swagger. Her personality type is a Renaissance Dog, meaning she’s good at a little bit of everything. How do you determine what games make the most sense, depending on what personality type the dog has?

N.O.: Sometimes it’s very easy, depending on the dog. For example, The Expert, they want to solve problems by themselves. They go for the games, they try to find the treats. You don’t need to help them too much. And they often solve very difficult games because they are very motivated to do whatever it takes. With The Charmer,they are very social dogs. They often want to have a little help from you. Maybe they don’t have the skill and the energy to solve the problems themselves, so maybe you start with an easier game first. I’ve done these kinds of tests since the early 90’s, and because of what I found, I began to develop different products and different levels for different types of dogs. It’s so interesting to see how, even in the same breed, dogs respond differently to the games.

BaS: I noticed that Sophie can’t manage to pull out the bone pegs in the DogCasino game. I’m not sure if it’s an intelligence thing or if it’s because she’s small and can’t manage to get a hold of them. What do you recommend?

N.O.: Try tying a string around the bones and let her pull them out that way, and put treats under the bones, too. That’s important to further motivate her. Is your dog a paw dog, as opposed to the mouth?

BaS: Yes, she is. She definitely focuses on using her paws to play the games.

N.O.: That’s part of it. Some dogs are paw dogs, some are mouth. Some are left focused, some are right. It’s funny.

BaS: How many toys in all have you created over the 20+ years you’ve been doing this?

N.O.: About 45. Right now, I think we have 35 different games in stock.

BaS: What are your most popular?

Pooped after a tough session
photo courtesy of DogTipper.com

N.O.: The DogTornado, the DogBrick, the Dog Treat Maze and the DogPyramid are the most popular. They are mid-range in difficulty, so they suit most dogs.

BaS: I saw that you’ve done contests with a row of dogs, each playing a particular game, kind of like a brainiacs challenge. Do you do a lot of these and why?

N.O.: Yes, I do this at various shows. It’s a great way to show people how the dogs really love playing the games. Some people think their dogs aren’t smart enough to play. With the contests, they see that they can.

Nina Ottosson’s toys are manufactured adhering to strict quality guidelines.  All wood blocks in the wooden games are made of hard and dense wood from Swedish beech trees. In all of the plastic toys, they’ve used non-toxic and recyclable plastic.

Where to buy: Amazon

Price range: $8.50 – 59.95

Do you have a lovable Forrest Gump or whiz-kid Einstein? What do you think of these games? I love hearing your stories! Tell me in the Comments below.

(Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of Amazon. Please visit our Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy for more info.)

Sophie in her pretty in pink Harness Lead

As someone who appreciates fashion for both the two-legged and four-legged kind, we have several different collars, leashes and harnesses for Sophie. But, what if you could have a good-looking harness and leash in one, that would take your dog from puppy through it’s life, gently reduce pulling and be escape proof? That was intriguing. Lisa Flynn, creator of the Harness Lead, explained and demonstrated the product for me at a Made in the USA retail expo in NYC recently, and was kind enough to give us a pretty pink one to try out on Sophie (I know…sometimes, it’s just gotta be pink!).  She generally doesn’t like harnesses, because many of them are just plain uncomfortable, and either ride up her arm pits or, as in the case of one step in harness, gets so loose that she stepped right out of it! Lisa assured me that this is an escape proof dog harness, and could be a great solution for Sophie. We set out to test one.

The Story

Before I get into the review, I want to share the story of how Lisa came to invent the Harness Lead. It’s a cool story that involves a shelter dog.

Lisa apparently has many years of experience as a dog walker in animal shelters. You encounter all kinds of pups in that environment and one, in particular, turned out to be the inspiration for her creativity.

Big dog sized Harness Lead

Because walkers in shelters have to be able to get a collar or harness and lead on a dog quickly and they come in all shapes and sizes, Lisa noticed that many of the walkers would resort to the use of a slip lead, which is just slipping the leash through the handle to create a “collar.” It might’ve been a quick solution, but it wasn’t a good one. The dog’s trachea was stressed with the pressure, it often would cough or choke on walks and there was no control.

Lisa became very fond of one of the dogs there, a pitbull named Buddha. Because Buddha was a highly energetic dog and didn’t get enough exercise, being cooped up in a cage most of the day, opening his kennel door was, as Lisa put it, “akin to a volcano erupting.” It was all they could do to wrangle a slip lead around his neck, not to mention the total lack of control Lisa had trying to walk this very powerful dog. She said she had the urge to wrap the slip lead around his body to get the pressure off of his neck, but there was nowhere to feed the lead through and nothing to keep it from continuing to tighten around his neck area.

She decided to create a slip lead harness for Buddha, to solve this problem. Isn’t it so true that many of the greatest inventions or companies built originated with trying to find a solution to a problem? Lisa began testing each configuration on her own dogs, until the Harness Lead was born. So, while this harness and leash in one is great for a shelter environment, it’s also great for our dogs, especially ones that like to pull. The Harness Lead covers a broad range of dog sizes, weights and shapes. The information sheet says it accommodates dogs  14-200 lbs! Sophie, at almost 12 lbs, is on the little squirt end of that spectrum. 🙂 Luckily, the Harness Lead comes in two sizes: the Sm-Med is 3/8 in diameter, for dogs 14-40 lbs; the Med-Lrge is 7/16 in diameter, for dogs 40-200 lbs.

Small dog wearing smaller sized Harness Lead

The Review

The first thing I noticed about the Harness Lead was how soft it was. It’s made from this very pliable, rolled weave that has a bit of a sheen to it, so it looks really nice. 🙂 The design is  definitely minimalist, which worked well for Sophie as it didn’t chafe her and she was able to move freely in it, something I can’t say for some other harnesses we’ve tried.

It’s very easy to put on, once you follow the instructions through once. I’ve included a video below to assist you, should you want to purchase a Harness Lead. Once the size is set for your dog, you can just slip it over their head, tighten up the chest and go. And the rubber stop guard in the design, doesn’t allow the harness to loosen, so it truly is escape proof.

Lisa said that the tightening around the barrel of the chest seems to have a calming effect on may of its users.  Having tried it on shelter dogs, who are notoriously very stressed, she must know what she’s talking about. But, that wasn’t an issue we dealt with. While Sophie may not be the perfect candidate for the Harness Lead as she’s not a terrible puller and she’s a bit of a light weight, I loved how soft and easy to use this harness was and I can see how great a product this would be for an escape artist, a bigger dog and dogs that pull.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Why:

• collar, harness and lead, all in one, so it’s economical
• gently keeps the dog from pulling by using its own pressure against the leash to remind them to slow down
• is escape proof
• is lightweight with a minimalist design for ease of use
• is made from a very soft, strong material, so it’s comfortable and durable
• comes in great colors, so it looks nice too!

Where to buy: Five Barking Dogs

Price: $29.99

If you liked this story, you might also like my story on Heavenly Beasts harnesses.

Do you have a dog that’s an escape artist or a puller? Tell me what you do in the Comments below.

Jill & her happy brood
photo courtesy of
Getty Images

If the Oscars and Westminster bred and had a baby, it would be Best in Shelter, the new awards program focusing on shelter animals with the message of “Adopt Don’t Shop.” The brainchild of NBC award-winning animal advocate and best-selling author,  Jill Rappaport, in conjunction with the ASPCA, Best in Shelter is a television prime-time special showcasing adoptable pets from shelters in the top 10 markets across the U.S. It’s about time!  And, it won’t all be fluffy puppies and kittens, who we know are adorable and we love. Jill knows how tough it is to get seniors, tripods (3-legged dogs), black dogs and others with challenges adopted. So, she’ll be taking special note of these animals and bringing much-needed attention to them. Kudos, Jill! Where will Best in Shelter call home? Stay tuned to Bark and Swagger for the network reveal soon!

The concept:

Bark and Swagger will be doing our part to help spread the word. I ran into Jill with her rescue pup, Rubie, in one of the aisles at Global Pet Expo, and got to interview her about Best in Shelter. Beginning in the fall of 2014,  Jill will go on the road to select those animals she feels best exemplifies the beauty, diversity and promise of shelter dogs and cats. Some of them will be”city-run” shelters, which sadly are the kill shelters. But, the great thing is Jill will be posting and tweeting and getting those selected out there from the moment they’re chosen. And, Best in Shelter vignettes of each animal selected, will also be airing on national television shows, so these babies will be getting a lot of attention from the get go. If as a result of this process, animals get adopted right away, all the better, says Jill. She’ll just choose more animals to highlight, so it’s a win win! The more to highlight, the more get adopted.

“It breaks my heart,” Jill laments. “If you go to a  movie premiere or a sporting event, a packed house is a success. Sadly, packed houses are the norm for shelters.  Every cage is full.  We need to change this dire situation. Nothing is more upsetting to me than when people say, ‘How do you do what you do? I could never go into a shelter. It’s too painful,’ to which I reply, ‘You think it’s painful for you? What about the animals waiting on death row?”

the Shelter Shake toy

Enter the Shelter Shake. What’s that?

To help alleviate some of the stress shelter dogs feel, Jill, in conjunction with interactive dog toy & accessory leader Hyper Pet, created an unusual new toy called the Shelter Shake. Rubie was going crazy for this toy during our interview, and I mean nuts! It’s made from a strong neon orange canvas-like material and a soft fleece, and is big enough to be a small pillow. But the kicker is, when you move the toy, it starts to wiggle and bark. It’s battery operated and is the first toy in Jill’s Rescue Me® Collection, which also includes collar and leashes, and helps promote awareness for pet rescue and adoption.

Jill gave me a scoop, revealing that she’ll be launching Shelter Shake exclusively on QVC this Spring, so stay tuned! 

Hyper Pet’s Director of Marketing, Sarah Bell, explains, “Rubie came into the Hyper Pet booth last year and loved our toys. It sparked an idea in Jill and she approached us to create a toy especially for shelter animals. The purpose would be to help them feel stimulated, create a kind of companionship and improve their lives,  so they are more adoptable. And, that ‘s what it’s all about.”  You can see Rubie playing with hers here.

The competition…

Like other awards programs,  those animals selected will compete in front of a live studio audience. They’ll strut their stuff for a panel of judges for a chance to be crowned “Best in Shelter,” and win a loving home in the process. In addition to Jill and special celebrity guests, the judges will feature experts in their niche, who would be faced with the task of narrowing down their faves.  Jill also told me there will be trophy categories, like “Sizzling Senior,” and at the end of the special, one Best in Shelter superstar will be crowned. But, you might remember from show like American Idol or The Voice, it’s not just the winners who benefit. The attention brought to all of the animals means they are prime and quick adoption candidates.

Jill and her beloved, Jack

Where it all started:

Jill is no newcomer to animal advocacy. Of her 23 years on NBC, the last 8 have been devoted to it. And, she came to her calling with the world watching.

“Sadly, I got into it because my beloved German Shepherd, Jack, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma,” she shares. “And while documenting his recovery on the Today show, he touched lives all over the world. Jack’s story ended up being a bright light.” The cancer ultimately took the 13 year old’s life. He’d had an amputation and chemotherapy, which extended his life by 2  years. As Jill described, Jack lived on 3 legs, happy and pain free. “Through this process, Jack made me realize what I wanted to do with my life,” she recollects. “I watched him two days after that surgery. He literally pulled me out of the hospital on three legs. All he wanted was to be home,  with the horses and the dogs. When they saw him,  the dogs weren’t like ‘Ew, you’re missing a leg.’ They were just happy to see Jack. Animals can teach us so much. They don’t judge the physical. They have an incredible tenacity and will to live.”

At that point, Rappaport, who’d been the premiere entertainment reporter for Today for 16 years,  went to her then-boss and told him that this was her calling; what she cared about. “Stars don’t need my help, animals do,” she declared. And, they were supportive.  Jill covers life threatening issues for pets, like rescue, shelters and health. “To me, this is not a job, it’s my oxygen,” she enthuses.

Bow to Wow was the first…

Jill never understood why awards shows would only highlight purebreds from breeders. She wanted to shine a light on shelter animals in desperate need of loving homes. So, she decided to do her own version on Today, but with shelter dogs. The monthly segment was called Bow to Wow (Meow to Wow was soon added), and higlighted everything from purebreds to 3 legged animals, blind, deaf and senior pets. Jill’s segments had a 100% adoption! 100%!   And she thought, what a great  idea for a show.  “Fifty years from now, when we’re no longer here, I’m hoping the two national dog shows  – Westminster and the National Dog Show – will be three, with Best in Shelter,” she explains. “Don’t shelter dogs deserve their own show?

“So, I’m hitting the road next fall, and I’m going to have a wrapped car with all of my dogs prominently featured on it!”

The new boy on the block – Stanley
photo courtesy of Jill Rappaport

Rubie, Buckaroo, Sweet Pea, Petey, CJ &, now, Stanley…

Jill doesn’t just talk; she walks the walk. She has 6 rescues: Rubie, a 5 year old Dachshund who was about to be euthanized the day Jill rescued her; Buckaroo, a Yellow Labrador Retriever; Sweet Pea, the Coonhound from the Brookhaven kill shelter on Long Island; Petey, the 125 lb American  Bulldog she rescued from NYC’s Animal Care & Control, CJ, the Havanese and, now, Stanley.  Stanley is a sweet, gorgeous, cream-colored Standard Poodle shelter dog Jill took home from Global Pet Expo for a Today show segment. He got on so well with her dogs, she decided to keep him. I met Stanley at Global and was, in fact, interested in him myself. What didn’t work out for me worked out great for Jill.

“I have purebred rescues. So, in a shelter, you can find anything and everything. The one thing that’s consistent is a huge heart and an unbelievable desire to live. And we need to give them that chance!”

How will you decide what shelters you visit for Best in Shelter?

“We’ll criss cross the country, visiting shelters to shine a light on the animals that need it the most,” Jill explained.

 What will you be looking for?

“People need to understand that the only thing wrong with a shelter animal is that they ended up in a shelter; that their circumstances put them there,” Jill emphasizes. “There’s no difference between them and a dog at Westminster. They all have the heart, soul and beauty of a champion. They just were unfortunate enough to end up on the wrong side of those velvet ropes.

“I’m looking for all kinds of animals. Whether they’re blind, deaf or on 3 legs, they are all blue ribbon champions in my book. Hopefully, everyone is going to understand and embrace that, and it’s going to shed a light on how wonderful these animals are.” Even celebs have pitched in and adopted Jill’s dogs.  “Michael Phelps took one of my Bow to Wow dogs,” she states. “And, Olympic medalist, Steve Holcombe, took another.”

Stay tuned, because Bark and Swagger is going to follow Jill’s journey.

During our interview, Rappaport playfully quipped her pro-adoption sayings to me, “Get a heart melter from a shelter! I’m a pound hound! A shelter cat is where it’s at! Smitten with my rescue kitten!”  Anyway you choose to put it, opt to adopt.

Do you have an adopted pet? Tell me about them below in the Comments.

Game of Thrones’ Cast

The Game of Thrones season 4 premiere is two days away and I am in a tizzy. We have to wait so long between seasons, it’s enough to make the most mellow itchy with anticipation. And, from what I’ve heard, this season will be chock full of action. Being Bark and Swagger is all about dogs, I was curious to see which of the “GoT” stars were dog lovers, had dogs or shared dog-related fun facts for us hungry fans. What I discovered was some cool, personal info on our beloved band of warriors. So, whether you’re fans Baratheon, Lannister or Stark, I hereby give you Game of Thrones’ Bones: Of Direwolves & Dogs on The Celebrity Spot.

For the uninitiated…

Game of Thrones roughly follows the three story lines of the books, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The fantasy drama series is set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and chronicles the violent struggles among the realm’s noble families for control of the Iron Throne.  You can learn more about how the show’s settings, characters and plot elements reference much of European history on Wikipedia. Game of Thrones has a huge international fan base, and has received widespread critical acclaim, receiving numerous awards and nominations, including a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in all three seasons, a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in Long Form, and a Peabody Award. Among the ensemble cast. Peter Dinklage won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for his role as Tyrion Lannister.

On, now, to all matters Westeros and dog.

Lena Headey &
her canine brood

Lena Headey (Cersei Baratheon)

There’s many words that come to mind to describe Cersei, but a good one is scheming.  For history buffs, Cersei brings to mind the very real Isabella, wife of Edward II of England (1295–1358), lovingly called the “she-wolf of France”. Haha…how delightful! When British actress, Lena Headey,  steps out of costume and into real life, she is another sort, altogether. Funny, clever and very quirky (in a good way), Lena is a real big tweeter (her account, for those interested, is IAMLenaHeadey), and shares often very cryptic quips, like “Have a beautiful Tuesday. Always look inside tree knots .. Boo Radley may have been…” Uh, ok…

I have to say I love this girl and all her wackiness. And she’s a big animal lover, and I love her for that, too! She has five or six dogs (and a bunny and goldfish). I know Wizard is her beagle, who farts and apparently howls at the most inopportune times…”Was it REALLY necessary for my beagle to howl like the possessed at 3am.. Was it.. WAS IT ?!!! (another tweet). She also has a Brussels Griffon named Angela Landsbury. She wasn’t always called that. I think she started as Nugget, until a friend remarked that she looked an awful lot like Angela Landsbury. And that, was that. Then, there is Monket and Skippy (both Dachshunds) and Irish (who looks like a cutie pie mixed breed). Sadly, in 2010, Lena lost her beloved senior dog, Mr. Tanner.  Headey is a longtime vegetarian, and has campaigned on behalf of animal rights and supports PETA. And, she practices boxing and yoga, which seems so Lena, to me. Kick-ass and zen. Yeah! Her 4 year old  son, Wylie, appears to take after his left of center mom. What’s his name for his imaginary great ape? Funky knuckle. Creative.

Peter Dinklage & Kevin…Grrr

Peter Dinklage  (Tyrion Lannister)

Called the “Brad Pitt of little people,” Peter Dinklage is the topic of much ooing and aahing on social media, because he’s a cool-looking and interesting character, and I don’t mean when  he’s in character. He’s got the down-to-earth brooding thing down. Another vegetarian, who’s said, “I like animals, all animals. I wouldn’t hurt a cat or a dog – or a chicken or a cow. And I wouldn’t ask someone else to hurt them for me. That’s why I’m a vegetarian,” Peter is also a PETA supporter, and even made a testimonial video on their website. Whenever he seems to be eating a meat product on screen, it’s really tofu. Dinklage loves his rescue senior dog, Kevin (what a great name for a dog, huh?), and thanked his dog sitter, by name,  during his 2011 Emmy acceptance speech, for watching Kevin so he could be at the awards show. Peter is married to theatre producer, Erica Schmidt, and they have a two-year-old daughter Zelig (another cool name). The two frequently join the star and Kevin on their walks.

For his role on Game of Thrones, New York magazine named him one of the “Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art.” And for any X-Men fans out there, Peter plays Bolivar Trask, creator of the Mutant hunting Sentinels,  along with fellow actors Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Ian McKellen in the next installment,  X-Men: Days of Future Past, out May 23. 

Daenerys & Madonna: Separated at birth?

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen)

I couldn’t find out much about Emilia Clarke’s dog, Roxy, but she’s just so freaking cool, I had to include her! As Daenerys, she’s shown such power, strength, humility and grace, that Clarke has said the role has, “…given me an opportunity to fly the flag for young girls and women, to be more than just somebody’s wife and somebody’s girlfriend.” Yes.  If she weren’t an actress, she said she would be an architect, a singer, or a graphic designer. And yes…she is beautiful. She was voted #1 on Ask Men‘s Top 99 ‘most desirable’ women of 2014 list.

One of the coolest things to happen to her recently? Madonna asked to borrow her Game of Thrones’ costume for a Jewish Purim festival holiday photo. The shot went viral on Instagram. I know. You’re thinking, separated at birth. Madonna’s even rocking the blond Daenerys-like wig!

One of the most uncool things to happen to her recently? About a year ago, she suffered a brain aneurysm and was lucky enough to make it to and be treated at NYC’s own New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

She’s crazy talented, and can sing and play piano, flute and guitar. Emilia is also a highly skilled alto, ballads, blues, cabaret and jazz singer. Lest you think she’s all artsy fartsy, Clarke’s sporting skills include horseback riding, ice skating, rowing, running, sailing, skiing, swimming and tennis. Exhausting to even think about such talent!

Sansa Stark with her direwolf protector, Lady

Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark)

I love this story. Sansa Stark loves her big, hairy direwolf protector, Lady, brought to Winterfell after being found standing over her dead mother with her brother and sister pups. Sansa loses Lady after nasty Cersei orders the kill, carried out by Ned Stark, Sansa’s father. And, that’s the exact moment her brother, Bran, wakes up from his coma. Are you still with me? But there’s a happy afterlife for this pup. Lady might’ve been a goner, but this beautiful Northern Inuit breed dog named Zunni, is very much alive and needed a forever home, once her tv duties were through. “Growing up I always wanted a dog, but my parents never wanted one,” the 17 year old Sophie Turner confided in an interview with Britain’s Coventry Telegraph. “We kind of fell in love with my character’s dire wolf, Lady, on set. We knew Lady died and they wanted to re-home her. My mum persuaded them to let us adopt her.” How awesome! So Lady, aka Zunni, is living the good life in the small, beautiful English village of Warwickshire with Sophie and her family.

It’s that family that keeps Sophie’s feet planted firmly on the ground. Her mom gives her a daily list of household chores, and her two older brothers keep her ego in check, watching her acting work and usually ending up telling her, “That was awful!” But, the wise-beyond-her-years actress says she’s grateful for it. “They’re not afraid to put me down, as brothers should,” Turner declares.

Jack Gleeson & Debbie

 Jack Gleeson (King Joffrey Baratheon)

Cruel, arrogant, sadistic, tyrannical…dog lover? The vicious King Joffrey Baratheon may be the most dislikable character on Game of Thrones, but when the crown comes off, Jack is a puppy lover at heart. He had a love fest on the street, not with a young, beautiful starlet, but a young, beautiful puglet named Debbie. The video and images went viral on Vine, and blew up Joffrey’s sinister spot in the shake of a doggy’s tail. But, don’t be sad! The evil King Joffrey returns Sunday to make you cringe, once again. Yes!

But, once Joffrey is no more on the series, Jack may be no more to acting. He’s been very vocal about his dislike of Hollywood and of celebrity culture in a 30-minute speech at Oxford in which he said of his experience, “I detested the superficial elevation and commodification of it all, juxtaposed with the grotesque self-involvement it would sometimes draw out in me.” OK,, then! Gleeson does admit that “the intensity of evil in Joffrey is slightly higher” than everyone else on the show, he’s not above a little tongue-in-cheek defense of him. “He’s a good guy, deep down. You don’t see the scenes in which he’s going to the orphanage and he’s feeding the puppies.” Jack has said he intends to pursue an academic career rather than professional acting after the show. He does seem the intellectual, doesn’t he?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as
Jaime Lannister

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister)

I couldn’t find much of anything on Nikolaj and dogs, except that he and his family have two small ones. But, did find out that he was once very, very afraid.  “When I was a kid, I was always afraid of small dogs, because they always seemed like the ones that would attack,” he shared in an interview. “Either they wanted to bite you or they wanted to fuck you, and I didn’t like that. And the irony, of course, [is that] my family, we have two dogs and they’re two tiny, little, very sweet dogs.” Never heard someone describe the humping that dogs sometimes do in quite that way, but, well…I don’t know. On to cutie Kit Harrington!

The majestic Jon Snow
& Ghost

Kit Harington (Jon Snow)

Check this out. His ancestors include Sir Richard Harington, the 12th Baronet Harington; Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville; and Sir William Molesworth, 6th Baronet. Hardly a bastard. But, Kit Harington is anything but fancy pants. He seems quite the down-to-earth guy, whose idea of a great first date is a nice meal with good wine, so you can get to know each other. And, like all good men, he loves animals! “I love my dog. I love Cooper, or Ghost, as he’s called,” the actor, referring to his direwolf, exclaimed during a panel at San Diego’s Comic-Con recently. “We got on very well. He just didn’t do what he was told,” he added, noting that the dog happily went after the meat in his hand rather than act the part of an intimidating animal. “He’s wagging his tail and he had his tongue out, not looking threatening or silent at all. But, I think he did a fabulous job, really.” Sweet.  He also shared, “I would like to have a dog, but that wouldn’t be fair. He would have a bad life, always on the road.” Maybe one day, Kit.

You may not know that Harington played the role of Albert in the original stage version of War Horse, while he was still a young guy studying in school, and played the character until 2009. He also auditioned for Game of Thrones with a black eye! “I don’t remember what happened, but it made me look a bit tougher than not having a black eye I guess,” he quipped. And he spent all of season 3 with a broken ankle. Injured during a stunt scene on the show, you think? Nah! Harrington shattered his ankle by climbing through a window when he’d lost his house keys! Game Of Thrones’ costume designer, Michelle Clapton explained, “He had a medical boot that he could take off, but he still couldn’t walk. We cut the back out of his [costume] boot so that he could put it on without having to actually step into it and just bound it to his leg. He managed really well, considering the amount of pain he was in.”

He loves horror flicks and taking pictures. He doesn’t liked spiders, flying and injections. Nothing unusual there. “Before I dreamed being an actor, I thought of becoming a journalist, a cameraman or a photographer.” The sensitive guy also writes poetry. But, we won’t see it anytime soon. “[I write them] only for myself, I would never publish them. At the moment I’m trying to make a script, but not to make a movie. I think it’s good to have a personal project, besides your everyday job.” I don’t know about you, but I’d like to see what kind of poetry comes out of Jon Snow! What’s makes his very raw relationship with Ygritte (played wonderfully by Rose Leslie) even more delicious, is they dated in real life and may be back together again, according to reports of sitings recently. We’ll just have to live vicariously through Jon and Ygritte.

Hope you had fun taking this trip through the Game of Thrones‘ bones with me. Doggy bones, that is. The clock is ticking. What kind of Game of Thrones premiere party do you have planned?

And who is your favorite character? Share with me in the Comments section below.

Kathy Ireland and Elizabeth Taylor, with one of her beloved Maltese

You may wonder what former supermodel and current business mogul, Kathy Ireland, and the iconic Elizabeth Taylor have in common. Inspiration. Read on to find out how one honors the other in a new pet product collection.

Hers may be the world’s 28th most licensed brand and more successful than Martha Stewart’s, but in front of a roomful of femmeprenuers at Global Pet Expo recently, Kathy Ireland’s eyes flashed with sassy glee. She’s telling a story about overcoming adversity, something Ireland has done many times in her life. Seems that at age 11, she began her first job – a paper route –  after writing the paper to say she was the girl for the job. But, everyone didn’t feel that way.  Back then, the naysayers claimed Kathy was trespassing in a boy’s world,  and it just wouldn’t work. She insisted she could do it as well as any boy, and she pedaled her heavy papers, rain or shine. She even rode up a big hill every day to deliver to this one very ornery man. He would yell at her, telling her she’d never make it, but the spirit she’d nurtured in herself as that young girl is very evident today in this grown woman’s eyes. “I held that route for 3 1/2 years,” Ireland relayed proudly. “And each year, I won the carrier award for my district. It taught me not to quit. Many years later, I’m still the girl with the paper route.”

And that probably says it best. An approachable, savvy woman who has learned not to let anyone’s opinion of her define who she is, Kathy Ireland has transcended what many thought was possible for a supermodel. And, she’s done it her way. Since launching her brand with a pair of socks in 1993, Ireland has designed over 15,000 products, available in 50 countries, in categories that all offer solutions –  for families, especially busy moms; for business people and for people in love. kathy ireland Worldwide® (kiWW) has annual sales exceeding 2 billion, with Forbes calling her the “prototype for model-turned-mogul,” and British Vogue proclaiming her the world’s richest model. She’s  managed this transformation so well, becoming exceptionally successful at marketing and selling to middle America, that licensers and other brands around the world are only too happy to find a way to partner.

Because there’s nothing the girl can’t do, Kathy’s latest foray is into the world of pets, with licensing partner and pet industry leader, Worldwise®.  Called kathy ireland’s Loved Ones, she’s offering pet families a home decor-friendly, tasteful and high quality collection of beds, collars, leashes, accessories and toys. Entering the pet space was inspired by her 12 year old pup, Sparky. I previewed some of the Loved Ones‘ items at a brand launch press conference at Global, and had the opportunity to briefly interview Kathy and Worldwise CEO, Kevin Fick. I noticed that they offer several different styles of beds and asked why. “We want pets to be welcome in any room of the home,” Ireland explained. “Having worked for so many years in home goods, we wanted to bring those palettes, those types of designs into the pet space, and feel it’s going to draw everyone [in the family] together.”  Ireland’s philosophy that “life is messy,” is something we can all relate to, and she has made it her mission to find or create products that are inclusive for all family members, furry ones included.  Kevin Fick added about the beds, “Dogs and cats like to get under the covers. When u think about separation anxiety, let’s say, a lot of products are designed around using a personal article of clothing, so you’ll see someone take a shirt and put it in that enclosure (referring to the Pillow Hideout Bed style), and it’s perfect.”

Kathy & her Sparky

Other styles of beds include the patented Cuddle Cube Pet Bed©, which enables our pups to sink cozily into the bed, without it spilling over and losing its structure; the Quilted Pet Bed with Lounge Mat features a quilted bed base with a reversible mat inside, which looked classic and chic. This style of bed can be used as is, or upgraded using a cool Mix & Match feature, whereby we can match the bed style with the sleeping style of our dogs. The Tailor Made Gusseted Pet Bed is a bit higher end, appointed with upholstery-like details (the word “gusseted gave that away, right?); and the Constant Comfort Bolstered Pet Bed gives comfort and support for both the body and the head, possibly working very well for seniors or for those who need a bit more support. I could see the attention to detail in these pieces. And I love that all the covers are removable for easy cleaning in the machine. The beds retail from between $40.00‑$180.00, so that’s not too bad.

The collection of leashes, collars and accessories have a classic, timeless look,  and offer interesting details, like the Tag Silencer© to quiet the jangling of i.d. tags, as well as an easy attach leash ring which makes it simple to put a leash on an excited pet. The Tag Silencer is a great one for us, because that jangling sometimes drives me a little crazy. 🙂 The leashes also feature a shock absorber to help eliminate strain from a dog that pulls, a feature a few companies are doing now and one that I’m sure dog moms, and even dads, appreciate. These retail from $8.00‑$30.00, again, a reasonable price point.

I was especially intrigued by the collection within a collection called Gracie and Delilah®. Kathy shared that Elizabeth Taylor was a mentor to her and they were very close. A staunch animal lover and one who “had a way with animals,” relayed Ireland, Liz came to Kathy with a very special request when she was nearing the end of her life. Taylor asked Ireland if she would take her two beloved Maltese, Gracie and Delilah, and care for them when she passed. Kathy and her family not only took the two babies in, and have them to this day, but she honored her dear friend by naming this luxury collection after them. The Gracie and Delilah® collection features products for both dogs and cats with luxury fabrics, detailing and some sparkle and shine. Perfect for

Gracie & Delilah
Product Wall at Global
photo: Jody Miller-Young

La Liz!

Other collection categories include travel accessories and mealtime. In travel, it’s basic things you might want on a trip with your pooch, but each item solves a problem and each is done in a high quality, timeless way. A Reversible Travel Mat unrolls to a double sided, durable mat with quilted padding, providing a comfortable place to rest in the car or a hotel; a stylish Travel Tote to carry smaller pets, and waterproof Travel Bowls that fold flat, with a protective flap at the top to protect the it from dirt and debris. These retail from $20.00‑90.00.

For mealtime, they offer sturdy, nice-looking dishwasher safe ceramic bowls, with metallic gold detailing (I love that); furniture pieces like the Grow with Me Adjustable Feeder for dogs, that adjusts in height as your pet grows older and the Double Diner with Storage Drawer, which has handy storage drawer for your dog’s toys. Both furniture feeding options feature removable stainless steel bowls with silicone gaskets (to prevent drips) for easy cleaning. Retails range $5.00‑130.00.

I liked the kathy ireland Loved Ones pet collection and I think, like her other solutions-based products, this will be very popular. But even more than that, I really liked Kathy. Her warm, friendly and very open demeanor, coupled with her business savvy, makes her someone other femmepreneurs aspire to. As a wildly successful former supermodel, you also have to figure the girl knows a thing about style. What a powerful combination. And, Kathy Ireland’s paper route is far from over.

The kathy ireland Loved Ones pet collection will be available this summer. Stay tuned here for details on where.

Do you have a favorite kathy ireland Loved Ones bed? Share which one with me in the Comments below.

Patchwork Bed
photo courtesy of Worldwise

Green Lounger
photo courtesy of Worldwise

Reversible Travel Mat
photo courtesy of Worldwise

The Gorgeous
Quilted Lounger
photo courtesy of Worldwise