Alexandre and the dogs who love him   She’s a scruffy rescue who was returned twice for behavior problems. Today, Estopinha has 2 million Facebook fans and knows 40 Portuguese and 10 English commands on Skype. If you’re shaking your head in disbelief, keep reading. When I met brilliant Brazilian animal trainer & more, Alexandre Rossi, and saw the proof for myself, I was convinced. Can dogs be trained to use Skype? Yes! Meet Alexandre and his famous dogs, Estopinha and Sofia, who will show us how it’s done. Sending a message about rescues…   … [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links What better way to say I Love You to your pet on Valentine’s Day than to be sure he or she is protected from theft? Pet Theft Awareness Day is, indeed, on Valentine’s Day this year, and we’re going all out to keep Sophie and Jasper secure. Love is…our fur kids sleeping together   Some of you may know we’re moving to Fort Lauderdale shortly. Yup, we’re in packing purgatory, but we’ve also been looking at ways to protect our fur kids in this new suburban environment. Unlike New York… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links   The oracle of color has spoken. In the world of color, Pantone is the almighty proclaimer of trends. And, its just announced the Pantone Color of 2015. You may remember from this blog that Radiant Orchid reigned as the color of 2014. This will be the year of Marsala. Its warm, earthy, rich tones, named from the full-bodied wine of the same color, will make an appearance on runways, in home decor, beauty products and more. For us, how can we assimilate this and other earth tones, also a big trend for… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links The Madison Carrier Yvette Ruta designs have captivated pet parents in the know, making hers the art of pet fashion. Yesterday, I introduced you to this prolific and talented Dallas-based designer and the exceptional pet beds and bedding she’s created. And, while her business might have started with beds,  it now includes a whole lot more. I saw Yvette’s black and white couture collection on the Yorkie 911 runway fundraiser last June, and the designs were very contemporary and fresh.  I wasn’t alone in my opinion, because many others… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Yvette with Chanel & Hali Dazzling pet couture and awesome accessories; one-of-a-kind handbags and sparkly jewelry…wait! I’m not done! Infant apparel to ooo and ah; luxurious home goods that beg a touch…is there anything Yvette Ruta can’t do? During a recent talk with the outgoing Dallas designer, whose clientele includes some Hollywood notables, I asked her how she manages such prolific creativity, with just so many hours in a day! Yvette has mastered the art of pet fashion. Listen to what drives her ability to do it all, learn… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links   Did you just see that?! Destroying the house when you’re out; incessant barking in the crate; lunging at people; barking at people…do any of these sound like your dog? I can put “Check!” next to a few. Today’s post is the final one in a three-part series on dog behaviors explained by the experts. We’ll tackling some of the tough stuff – separation anxiety and how you know if your dog has it; fear-agression issues and what that means. We even have some great advice for moms and… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links It may have been scientifically proven that dogs feel the same emotions we do, but that doesn’t mean we speak their language. With Jasper proving to be such an unexpected challenge in our lives, my husband and I need extra, super-sized tools to deal with his fear aggression and separation anxiety. I  I first received Decoding Your Dog at a press dinner here in New York for Steve Dale, the nationally-syndicated pet journalist and author. Steve edited the book, from interviews with Drs. Debra Horwitz and John Ciribassi, both board-certified veterinary animal behaviorists with… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Gail Thackray What is your dog really thinking? If he’s a rescue, what experiences has he had that contributes toward his current behavior? How can we better understand our pets? These are all questions many of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. And, there’s a woman who can help us learn just that. We can gain a deeper understanding about our pets and just how important a role they play in our lives, in ways we never imagined. Gail Thackray is a British-born medium and animal… [Continue Reading]