Snuggies, Now For Dogs

OMFG, this made me laugh. The company that created the Snuggie has come out with a new version for canines.

Image courtesy of Allstar Products

Anne Flynn, director of marketing for the company, told People Pets, "Snuggie stands for cozy, warmth and functionality…and dogs need to stay comfy on their morning walks and on those chilly winter evenings too. Many Snuggie customers are also dog owners, and we didn't want the owners feeling bad about the jealous glances from their pets any longer."

I’m pretty sure Riley wouldn’t go for this—and she’d probably be mildly horrified by it—but you never know. Sure, I admit it. She does have a cute (not cheesy) coat, but it’s for when New York temps reach the 30s.

What do you think? Would you guys buy one for your pet?

Some Pet Hospitals Ban Tail Docking, Ear Cropping

USA Today recently reported that one of the country’s largest network of animal hospitals—Banfield, the Pet Hospital, which has more than 730 hospitals nationwide—will no longer crop dog’s ears and tails, nor will they devocalize dogs. The controversial practices were also recently opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Boxers often have their tails docked and their ears cropped.

Tail docking, a cosmetic procedure which involves a veterinarian lopping off part of a dog’s tail when they are a few days old, has long been supported by the American Kennel Club. (Ear cropping generally happens at about 12 weeks.) According to the USA Today article: “the AKC says that ‘as prescribed in certain breed standards, (they) are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character, enhancing good health and preventing injuries,’ and that ‘any inference that these procedures are cosmetic and unnecessary is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs.’”

Devocalization is more rare and entails the full or partial removal of a dog’s vocal chords to prevent it from barking.

Where do you guys stand on these procedures? Do you think they’re cruel and unnecessary, a way to maintain breed standards and integrity, or something else entirely?

Collars for Plus-Size Dogs

If you’ve got a larger dog—like a Husky, Bulldog, or German Shepard—Dean and Tyler makes some really amazing leather and neoprene accessories. Their collars feature vintage-style brass plates or studs, and most come in both brown and black leather.

Prices range from about $60 and $130, so these collars are not cheap, but they’re definitely sturdy and stylish. To see their entire product line, click here.

“Breed Profiling”: How Companies Discriminate

A recent story in the Los Angeles Times reported that insurance companies categorize certain breeds as "high risk." According to the story: “It's a trend that began about 10 years ago, at around the same time as statistics were released showing that pit bulls, Rottweilers and German shepherds were responsible for more than half the dog bite fatalities in the U.S. over a 19-year period. Despite opposition from consumers, many insurance companies still maintain a will-not-cover breed blacklist.”

Boerboels are on the list......and so are Akitas.

The lists have evolved to include the following breeds:

• Wolf hybrids
• Akitas
• American Bandogge Mastiffs
• Boerboels
• Chow-chows
• Doberman pinschers
• Olde English Bulldogs (English bulldogs are acceptable)
• Rottweilers
• Pit bull breeds, including American Staffordshire Terriers, English Bull Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers, Presa Canarios and Staffordshire Bull Terriers
• Mixed breeds containing any of the above

If a homeowner has what is considered to be a “high-risk” breed, insurers may jack up the policy premiums or simply decline a policy altogether.

The story continues: “But the ASPCA and defenders of some of the most stigmatized breeds, like pit bulls, say dog aggression is often more about owner behavior than breed temperament. Aggression can be fostered in any breed and has been throughout history, as humans exploited the natural strength of certain breeds, [ASPCA senior director of government relations and mediation Jill] Buckley says. In the middle ages, it was the Great Dane, bred and trained to defend the castle moats. The Newfoundland was the bad boy of the 1800s. Today it's the pit bull. ‘There'll be another breed tomorrow. You can't just keep banning breeds. You have to look at responsible ownership,’ Buckley says.”

What do you guys think of this policy?

Pimp Your Ride…With a Dog Car Seat Cover

Sure, it’s pretty awesome to take your dog with you on a weekend trip. But after a couple hours of him kickin’ it in the backseat on the way to or from your destination, there’s probably a decent amount of drool, hair, and dirty paw prints back there. (Not to mention, you might as well say goodbye to that new car smell.)

If you want to avoid taking your ride to the carwash to get vacuumed and detailed every time your pooch travels with you, maybe invest in a seat cover. Here are three that I like:

• A hammock seat cover (from Doctors Foster and Smith) protects your backseat from pet hair, dirt, or puncture marks from your dog’s nails. It also acts as a barrier so he can’t climb into the front seat while you’re driving. (The company claims this seat cover will fit in any size vehicle, although I'd measure before buying.) These are $44.99.
• Quilted, padded seat covers are a whole lot more aesthetically appealing, and they have fastening devices that keep them from sliding around.  These ones—from Inthecompanyofdogs.com—sell for $59.95.
• Canine Covers also makes custom car seat covers for dogs. They’re a whole lot more expensive, but you can choose from a variety of fabrics, and their covers can be made to fit the dimensions of any car.

 Has anyone else test-driven any of these?