The Power of Flowers

I was having a conversation with a woman in Central Park this morning, and she swore by Rescue Remedy as a legit chill-out product for dogs. It’s a flower essence that is supposed to relax your pet when he or she is in stressful situations—whether it’s a trip to the vet, to quell separation anxiety, whatever. (Touted as “yoga in a bottle,” it’s also available for humans and has been written about in basically every major magazine.)

Rescue Remedy Pet comes in a dropper bottle, and you’re supposed to put 4 drops in your dog’s mouth, on a treat/food, or directly to his or her nose, ears, or paw.

Has anyone tried this—for yourself or your pet?

Which Plants are Dog-Safe?

I admit it, I love the New York Post. I get it at home and cannot live without Page 6. Call me shallow. But another column that I'm obsessed with is Julia Szabo's "Pets" page. In the May 3, 2009, edition of the Post, Julia wrote about potentially dangerous plants for your pet—"Flowers for Fido: Pup-Approved Bouquets Make for a Safe, Stylish Home." In the article, Julia discusses floral stylist Cristy Ruiz's advice for avoiding toxic plant species in your home. Or, if you're like me, your undesirably small apartment.

Michael Sofronski/New York Post

Did you know that posies, aloe, amaryllis, holly, calla lilies, and other plants can be poisonous to your dog? Again, I had no idea. You can find a full list on the ASPCA's site here.

These Dog Travel Bowls = Genius

I'm taking a few road trips with Riley this summer, so the other day I was looking around from some travel bowls to use when we're in the car, at the beach, or just staying with friends. I found these amazing bowls on eco-friendly dog boutique earthdoggy.com.

There are so many cheesy dog products out there, and I love that these are unique. Even better: They cinch at the top for food and open if you just want to use for water. They're also collapsible, waterproof, and machine-washable. Earthdoggy.com has lots of other cool stuff too—from beds to treats to gifts—and the best part is, the bulk of the products they carry are earth-friendly.