Simple pleasures such as affection, activity and regular feeding are the mainstays of canine satisfaction, but toys and treats inspire oodles more doggy delight. Here are some holiday gift ideas for dogs whether they’ve been naughty or nice.

PetSmart rings in the holidays with a variety of festive treats and toys. A stocking full of Rawhide Chews for Dogs from Petholiday by Dentley’s will undoubtedly be a favorite of any dog. My dog, Biscuit, was more than happy to do a pre-holiday taste test: she scarfed some of the bone and gingerbread men-shaped granulated rawhide treats instantly. In fact, the first treat disappeared so quickly I thought she had hid it for safekeeping, but upon closer inspection a few stray crumbs were evidence of an enthusiastic gobbling. Biscuit savored the coiled rolls, candy cane and rod shaped treats, playing with them for a day or more before eating them up. Another resounding success is the Petholiday by Toy Shoppe Hedgehog Squeaker Mat; my dog loves plush toys and squeaker toys, and this plush mat comes with 12 squeakers, a head that rattles and sports a Santa hat complete with pom pom on top. It didn’t take long for Biscuit to tear off the hat and surgically remove the squeakers and rattle, but she had a great time doing so and continues to shake around the hedgehog weeks later.

Available online and in-store exclusively at PetSmart http://www.petsmart.com for locations

As with holiday parties, with squeaker toys, the more the merrier! Kyjen, known for beautifully designed, well-made dog toys makes a variety of squeaker mat toys that boast 12 or 16 squeakers. Biscuit is the proud owner of a Plush Puppies Long Body Mallard Large Squeaker Mat, 31” long with a large head that rattles and 16 squeakers, a Plush Puppies Frankie Fox Real Animal Squeaker Mat with natural colors and textures of real animal fur, 12 squeakers, a large head and a large, bushy, grunting tail and a Plush Puppies Square Squeaker Mat small Sidney the Squirrel with a rattling head, 16 squeakers and a bushy tail. Both the long body and square body styles are great for tug of war, and the square body can be thrown easily, but Biscuit, though she’s small, seems to take extra pleasure in dragging around the long bodies. The multitude of squeakers means that even when Biscuit, the squeaker slayer has silenced a few squeakers there are still more to go. Biscuit tears through most plush toys in record time and because Plush Puppies toys are so durably constructed, they’re still puncture free. Amazing!

Available online at Kyjen http://www.kyjen.com or see http://www.kyjen.com for local retailers

Nina Ottosson Sweden is famous for award-winning dog activity toys designed to stimulate dogs mentally and provide an opportunity for owners to bond with their dogs and reinforce training commands such as “wait”, “find it” and “sit”. The toys are rated by three levels of difficulty: beginner, medium and advanced. My dog loves the challenge of searching for treats with the Dog Tornado (also good for cats) and the Dog Twister which are rated medium to advanced. The Dog Tornado, is shaped like a bone with three stacked rotating trays in which treats can be hidden, and dogs use their nose and paws to spin the trays and find their treat rewards. The Dog Twister is a circular tray with hollows for treats that have sliding block lids, which dogs have to move to find the treats. To increase the difficulty both games have pegs that can be inserted to prevent access to the treats until the dog removes the pegs. I like that these toys foster Biscuit’s natural desire to sniff out and work for rewards. Most of toys come in either wood or plastic. The plastic toys are easy to clean and can be put in the freezer (frozen wet food in the hollows makes for a longer lasting food reward).

Available online at Nina Ottoson – http://www.nina-ottosson.com or see http://www.nina-ottosson.com for local retailers

Dog paraphernalia (toys, clothes, food, treats, collars, brushes etc.) has a way of taking over the house. The Big Bone Storage Bin from Pet Zone is an adorable bone-shaped bin perfect for storing any of your dog’s belongings. It’s sturdy, made of food-safe plastic in a neutral color and holds a lot despite its compact size (comes in a 10 lb or 30 lb capacity size). I use the large size bin for my dog’s toys, and when the secure lid is off, the low, oblong shape allows Biscuit to reach in and select her toy of choice rather than tipping over the entire can as she did when her toys were in a spare trash can. An ideal choice for storing all of Fido’s holiday loot!

Available online at Shop Our Pets http://store.shopourpets.com/boneboxlg.html

A Happy Howlin’ Holiday to you!

I always look into the windows of pet stores. I think we all do, it’s hard to ignore the small, cuddly pups romping and playing. But I’ve also learned that we can’t ignore where many of these animals come from. I love dogs. I always have. I’m one of those people who are afraid to actually walk into the pet store because I’m always afraid that I’ll end up taking one of those puppies home. But this isn’t a story about a pet store puppy

A few weeks ago, I decided to take the plunge and foster a beautiful one-year-old Yorkie. I had some trouble with a name, and finally chose Sherlock. Because of his intuitive, curious and astute personality it fit him perfectly. It was amazing, considering where Sherlock came from. His life began as a puppy mill stud in the Midwest, where he was almost euthanized. The last minute, he was saved by an organization called Best Friends, a truly remarkable group of people whose sole focus is to save animals from shelters and puppy mills and then find them permanent homes. Sherlock was found in a small crate with three females. At first glance, this doesn¹t sound too unpleasant, except there was no heat or ventilation and the crate was outdoors. . All too often, the pups freeze or die from malnutrition. The puppy mill owners don’t care. There’s a lot of “inventory,” and a few losses don’t matter.

Four times a year Pup My Ride transports dogs from puppy mills and shelters into caring hands. I wasn’t prepared for the arrival which was really a celebration. More than 200 volunteers from various rescue groups ran after the truck clapping and yelling; it was as if they were greeting a group of refugees. But then, I guess they were.

The doors of the truck swung open. Each dog was handed over to the appropriate rescue organization. The emotion involved was overwhelming. The dogs came out of the truck with sad, scared, or resigned eyes. Every one of them was then wrapped in a warm blanket and held, caressed and hugged, probably for the first time.

Sherlock was handed over to one of the volunteers. Little did I know the dog being carried to the Yorkie911Rescue van would be mine to care for until he found a fur- ever home.

Heidi, President of Yorkie911 Rescue Inc. stood by the van inspecting the physical condition of each of the Yorkies. I have such profound respect for the untiring efforts of this rescue group

Next stop was Barks “˜N Bubbles on Long Island. Irene donated her facility to clean and groom the pups. Anais, Vice President of Yorkie 911 Rescue washed; as volunteers blew dry the pups hair. It was likely the first time for many of these canine “clients,” but they soldiered through. It felt like Santa’s workshop.

Yorkie911Rescue found foster homes for all 14 of the pups and one was mine. I marveled at Sherlock, who immediately assumed the mantle of the Manhattan dog, prancing along West 14th Street, greeting people and checking out their dogs. And that night, for the first time, sweet Sherlock had a stuffed toy, a chewy bone, a soft and warm bed, healthy food and someone to care for him.

We both had found home. He allowed me to rub his belly. That’s complete trust from a pup that had no reason to trust. That is home. That is the spirit of the holidays.

There are hundreds of rescue groups across the country building awareness about inhumane conditions in puppy mills and encouraging people to adopt rather than buy pets.

Trust me ““ it feels a lot better than walking into a pet shop.

For further information or to make donations contact
http://www.metwork.bestfriends.org.

If, like me, you’re set on a Yorkshire Terrier, contact http://www.yorkie911rescue.com. Donations are always needed to help future rescues.

On my travels to Toronto, I always try to stop by in one of the two Lavishy (http://www.lavishy.biz) Boutiques, either the one on Yonge Street or the one on Dundas Street. I love their cheeky and nature themed products (no leather!). In my travels around the world, I have seen their cute purses or bags at various boutiques, usually stores that sell quirky and interesting products. In various stores all across New York, I’m sure you’ve stumbled on something “lavishy”.

I jaunt around the world quite a bit for work, and my passport takes a beating. So when I was shopping for a passport holder and wasn’t able to make it to their Toronto stores, I went directly to the Lavishy website (http://www.lavishy.biz) to find something appropriate. And I wasn’t disappointed ““ there is a huge selection of colors and animal designs in appliqué and embroidery for travel accessoruies. Their Adora collection is made from “pleather” because there are animal friendly. Along with the playful Bird Passport Cover, are other items perfect for the world traveler such as the Love Cats Laptop Bag and Scottie Cell Phone Pouch. All of these come in various colors and will protect your important gear.

How many times have you stood at the baggage carousel waiting for your bag to slide down the chute, and only to see in dismay that there are countless other bags that look like yours? Usually black luggage ““ how many are there?! You’ll be able to spot your bag if you get a colorful Akina Luggage Tag, embossed with a beautiful design of a bird, peacock, fish or butterfly.

I also love the Lavishy animal-themed jewelry line called Lava. Handmade from lead-free pewter, plated with silver and hand-painted with enamel. You can double duty with the pendants, because they are reversible, perfect for different moods. The Peacock pendant cleverly has the head on one side and the tail on the other. The Japanese maple has the leaves on one side and a zebra print on the other.

When you go to the Lavishy site, it says “Welcome To New Funland! That’s exactly what it is!

Our pets love to burrow, hide behind the sofa, crawl under our beds. I think they just want to have a roof over their heads, a protected place to call their own.

With the Pet Camper from Straight Line Designs (http://www.straightlinedesigns.com) your dog or cat will be sheltered in style. This custom-built work of art will bring a smile to your face and be a definite statement in your home. Straight Line Designs is a one-of-a-kind workshop from Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to installations, sculptures and private commissions, their designer Judson Beaumont and his staff have designed and constructed a variety of furniture and projects for public institutions and children’s exhibitions throughout the world. Contact sldesigns@telus.net or call 1-604-251-9669″¨ for ordering information.

If you have more than one cat, you may like the more rustic Cat Cottage which is the “cat’s meow” for multiple cat owners! With three separate compartments, this triplex can comfortably house three to six cats, depending on their size. Each unit has a floor size of 20 x 19 and the “upper suite” features a lounging ledge (which also serves as a weather shelter for the bottom two door entrances if you have outdoor cats). The round doors come with vinyl flaps installed. Made by Blythe Wood Works, you can order one from their site at http://www.blythewoodworks.com or from http://www.catsplay.com

If you’re traveling but still want to bring your dog’s kennel with you, the perfect solution is the Collapsible Pet House from a new line of travel products by Animal Planet. This three-piece folding shelter features built-in fasteners for quick assembly, and it conveniently folds flat for travel or storage when not in use. It’s soft and cozy to provide your pet with extra comfort. Available at department stores and their online sites ““ Bed Bath and Beyond, JC Penney, Macy’s and Kohl’s.

With the holidays upon us, it’s the perfect time to get in touch with people who we don’t get to see on a regular basis. Like a favorite aunt who used to heap an extra slice of cake on your plate, or a rascally uncle who never failed to slip you a ten-dollar bill when you were in college. Forget about sending them an email message, go ahead and send a real actual card that they can display on their mantle. Here are a few stationary ideas for your holiday party invitation, thank you card for a wonderful present, or a note card to accompany your hostess gift.

Instead of visiting the Post Office to get stamps, go to their online store at http://www.shop.usps.com and pick up a lovely set of Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet Notecards. This is a set of 10 Notecards featuring artwork from the 44-cent Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet special stamps. So if you get both the cards and the stamps, you can send out perfectly matched stationery! The pets depicted on the stamps and cards were photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce near her home in Connecticut, all had been homeless at one time but have been adopted since they were photographed.

You can find the most adorable cards at http://www.polkadotdesign.com and what makes them so appealing is that you are able to customize your designs. Create unique cards with a cheeky pet-themed twist. Your online order with Polka Dot Design includes a free color proof usually ready in only one business day. And your cards will get to you in a mere 2 days after that. Go online to order or call 1-877-816-0884

Let your friends and relatives know that you care about animals with ASPCA (www.aspca.org) holiday cards. You can get their new 2010 designs or last year’s exclusive designs that feature ASPCA alumni – dogs and cats who were rescued as strays, saved or transferred from other shelters. Each box contains 16 cards, envelopes and silver seals embossed with the ASPCA logo and a brief heartwarming bio on the back of the card. You have your choice of all cats, all dogs or mixed. Best of all, proceeds go to support the ASPCA’s amazing work. Visit http://www.aspcaonlinestore.com

So send a card, and save a life and let everyone know your soft spot for animals.

The holidays are a time for giving and appreciating our friends and family, especially our loyal Fidos and beloved Fluffies. Today, about 63% of all U.S. households have a pet (Source: American Veterinary Medical Association) which translates to about 75 million dogs and about 85 million cats owned nationwide (Source: Pet Food Institute). Now that’s a lot of biscuits and catnip for our furry friends!

Personally, I’m grateful for those daily hikes with my pets that keep my body lean and mind balanced, and those licks and nuzzles just because I’m around. And while I don’t like my pets Greta and Sawyer grabbing and gobbling my kids’ snacks when opportunity strikes, they will be indulged this festive season. Here are a few gift ideas canines and felines will enjoy from us humans:

I’m thrilled to have found PersonalizationMall.com for unique customized products. I got two items for my dogs and am completely satisfied. The ruby red Bones© Stockings are well-crafted, super plush outside with nice dog bone appliques, each expertly embroidered, and lined with linen. And since these booties are generously sized at 14 x 9 inches, I’ll happily fill them with lots of yummy dog treats, toys and jewelry ““ oopps, wrong stocking. The Mice© Stockings are available for cats.

I also like the Jingle Bones© Dog Treat Tin, another sweet gift. The tin, high quality and durable, holds a fun, six-ounce assortment of dog treats. These biscuits, shaped like dogs, stars, circles, bones, etc., are made of all-natural ingredients, like rye flour, peanut butter, molasses, cheddar cheese, milk powder, sugar, and more. We both can feel good about our holiday desserts. I’ll stick to my home baked gingerbread men cookies, but my dogs will devour these. These dog treats came wrapped in paw-printed cellophane and tied with festive ribbons ““ overall a perfect presentation.

The name, PersonalizationMall.com says it all: I had the stockings and tins personalized with the names of my dogs, Greta and Sawyer. They did a wonderful job. I’m a happy customer and will return year-round when I need that extra special gift. (Please allow a tad more time to monogram when placing an order.) http://www.personalizationmall.com

Thanks to Hartz® I have great treats and toys for those stockings. I’ve always relied on this brand, and Hartz doesn’t disappoint for the holidays. The products I selected do double duty: My dogs are having fun munching the play bones and chew toys while keeping their mouths healthier. The Chew “˜n Clean® line offers bones in different sizes for a variety of breeds. Chewing is important to help remove tartar, keeps teeth clean, and exercises gum. Crunch “˜n Cleanâ„¢ Dog Biscuits are another healthy snack for dogs that provide vitamins and minerals essential to their health. These biscuits contain Hartz’s patented ingredient DentaShield® to block twice the tarter for cleaner chompers. While my pets don’t care about the health benefits, they love the tasty flavors of Hartz’ products, such as Braised Beef, Rotisserie Chicken, and Smokehouse and Country Bacon. For cats, Crunch “˜n Clean treats come in salmon and chicken flavors. “Buen provecho,” I say.

Finally, my one-year old American Dingo is having a ball with the Hartz’s Dura Playâ„¢ Squeaking Football. He is a high-energy frisky pup, and toys must withstand his rougher play and chewing. This football does the trick. Sawyer throws this into the air, jumps up to catch it, then throws it around many times. Before my kids are up in the morning, he grabs the football and thumps and bounces with it all over the house. He can get quite greedy with toys, so I may not be able to play fetch with him. Whatever, we’re happy to add this durable football to his toybox.

Hartz products are available at grocery stores, drug stores and mass merchandisers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Kroger. http://www.hartz.com

My dogs are fans of Crazy Crittersâ„¢ by TeleBrands, a marketer of “As Seen on TV” products. Crazy Critters are stuffed toys, foxes and raccoons, without the stuffing. They look real and make squeaking noises, so dogs will think they are playing with fellow animals. They are ideal for both indoor and outdoor play — dirt can be removed by hand washing, and zero stuffing means no mess on floors and furniture. My 8-year old beagle-basset, who I thought lost interest in toys, keeps stealing and nibbling on her 22-inch fox while lounging in her crate. With its’ silky softness and head and tail squeakers, I’d join her.

Crazy Critters are great for dogs of all sizes. They are available at Walmart, CVS, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and many other national retailers, or visit http://www.buycrazycritters.com.

In tandem with decadent holiday treats, our pets deserve great products for optimal health and energy. Nordic Naturals® Pet Cod Liver Oils and Omega-3™ Pet Soft Gel Capsules provide essential omega-3 fatty acids, an important supplement for dogs and cats, plus vitamins A and D. Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for healthy skin and hair, joints, brain, heart, eyes, weight management, and improved immunity.

A leading supplier of omega fish oil in the natural products industry, Nordic Naturals offers pure, fresh and flavorful oils and gels for convenient use and travel. I’ve been feeding my pups the cod liver oil in their morning kibble for a few weeks. I’m amazed that their fur feels velvety softer, and my beagle’s chronic flakiness is gone. They seriously enjoy the added oil in their breakfast, licking their empty bowls plus rims ““ for a long time. I should use this product year-round. I should try cod liver oil myself!

Exclusive to Beauty News NYC readers, K9Cuisine, a Nordic Naturals retailer, is offering a 20% discount off the Pet Cod Liver Oil through December. Visit http://www.k9cuisine.com/m-158-nordic-naturals.aspx and use the promotional code, “Nordic,” or call 866.919.2415 and say “Nordic” to get the discount.

Visit http://www.nordicnaturals.com/pet/ to shop online or find a NYC retailer near you.

Whether walking on snowy terrain or napping by a warm fireplace, dogs will look classy in the new co-branded collection of fine and sturdy dog collars and leads from Vineyard Vines® by Mascot®. They feature Vineyard Vines signature fishbone or whale icon, woven onto jacquard ribbon and backed in durable cotton webbing. Collars and leashes can be hand washed with soap and water.

I admire both companies for their all-American products, so well crafted and durable. People and pets will be happy. Visit http://www.vineyardvines.com or http://www.mymascot.com to see the entire line and shop.

And if you don’t have a fireplace, the Pet-zzz Pad may do the trick to keep dogs and cats warm this Winter. It’s a novel concept: the pad heats up the animal’s bed to a vet-recommended 102º when he lies on it. It then shuts off when the critter gets off. Greta looked skeptical when I asked her to give the pad a try, giving me the familiar stare that says, “You crazy humans.” She did eventually settle in and was quite comfy and relaxed in the Pet-zzz Pad. I think Greta will get used to her cuddly pad. I bet she’d love it on our Bernhardt sofa, which she sneaks on to nap when we’re not around. Here’s to a long good life, my best canine lady!

Pet-zzz Pad is an American Kennel Club and Cat Fancier Associated branded heating mat that activates with a pet’s weight. It fits any size pet bed with a regular 12-inch pad for small to medium pets and a large 16-inch for medium to large pets. Visit PETCO or http://www.PetZZZPad.com

Happy holidays to all our furry best friends. Love, your humble humans.

Does you pooch have a leather dog collar,”­ “¬well that’s not really animal friendly,”­ “¬when you think about it.”­ “¬Fabric dog collar”­? “¬Apparently it’s a bacteria breeding ground.”­ “¬Although handmade ones are pretty chic like favorites made by”­ “¬Lucky Fiona“­ (“¬find it on”­ “¬www.etsy.com”­)”¬.”­ “¬Nylon”­? “¬Fashionable”­? “¬Well,”­ “¬that depends,”­ “¬as long as it’s not fluorescent”­! “¬Shudder”­! “¬So what’s a”­ “¬trendy dog to do this holiday season”­? “¬Go Green of course”­! “¬Organic and recycled materials are the way to go.

Get an urban and smart looking eco-friendly rubber collar made from bicycle inner tubes.”­ “¬Black latex looks good,”­ “¬surprisingly”­! “¬These collars can be found on”­ “¬Etta Says“­ “¬(www.ettasays.com”­) “¬with stitching in three colors,”­ “¬Cool Blue,”­ “¬Red Hot and Mellow Yellow.

Do your bit for”­ “¬plastic bottle”­ “¬recycling by getting a very handsome”­ “¬houndstooth”­ (“¬is there a pun here”­?) “¬collar.”­ “¬Made from recycled bottles right here in”­ “¬the”­ “¬USA,”­ “¬the rugged polyester can hold up”­ “¬to”­ “¬abuse from the most active dog.”­ “¬Sizes from Small to Extra Large can be found at”­ “¬Proper Pet”­ (“¬www.properpet.com”­)

Cats can get in on the Green action too.”­ “¬Wagging Green”­ (“¬www.wagginggreen.com”­) “¬has natural fiber collars.”­ “¬This collection features”­ “¬natural,”­ “¬non-dyed bamboo webbing made into dog collars,”­ “¬cat collars,”­ “¬harnesses and leashes.”­ “¬It’s the softest collar”­ “¬anywhere,”­ “¬and best of all its completely hypoallergenic for those super sensitive pets.”­ “¬The natural collection is available in buckle and martingale dog collars,”­ “¬leashes,”­ “¬and harnesses.

Get high on hemp with”­ “¬Planet Dog and their cozy fleece lined hemp collar from”­ “¬Rei”­ (“¬http://www.Rei.com“­)”¬.”­ “¬Made of naturally dyed hemp,”­ “¬one of the strongest natural fabrics,”­ “¬these collars will withstand salt water,”­ “¬mud puddles and snow”­ “¬–”­ “¬perfect for the winter dog.”­ “¬These collars come in delicious colors like soft purple and apple green.

Getting collared into the Green Movement is really simple after all.

It’s the season of mistletoe,”­ “¬gingerbread,”­ “¬candy canes”­ “¦ “¬and endless hours gift-wrapping”­! “¬No matter what I get for my dear friends and family during the holidays,”­ “¬my favorite part is wrapping the actual gift.”­ “¬I’m no Martha Stewart,”­ “¬but I do like to put a different spin on the packaging.

Helping me in my endeavor is”­ “¬Printed Puppy“­ (“¬ http://www.printedpuppy.com “­)”¬ which has doggie bags that are definitely not for the dogs.”­ “¬With playful puppies asking”­ “”¬Let’s Play”­””¬,”­ “¬or”­ “¬bossily ordering to”­ “”¬Fetch the Car”­””¬,”­ “¬these gift bags will definitely bring a smile to the recipient,”­ “¬even before they open their present.”­

I’ve made unusual gift tags over the years,”­ “¬using photos,”­ “¬ornaments,”­ “¬even twigs.”­ “¬This year,”­ “¬I’m going simple by picking up some luggage tags from the”­ “¬ASPCA“­ ( “¬www.aspca.org “­) “¬Instead of”­ “¬filling”­ “¬the”­ “¬address info”­ “¬section”­;”¬ I’ll use the blank area for a holiday message instead.”­ “¬And it’s also a gift in itself that can be used on”­ “¬the next trip.”­ “¬Available in”­ “¬31″­ “¬breeds,”­ “¬from the sad-looking Basset Hound to the happy Yorkie.

For cat lovers,”­ “¬the Happy Holiday Catnip Cookies are a perfect present.”­ “¬Two handmade fabric Fortune Cookies are stuffed with fiberfill”­ “¬and”­ “¬certified organic catnip,”­ “¬kitties will think these are the cat’s meow”­! “¬And they come with fortunes too,”­ “¬complete in their own take-out box.”­ “¬No need to gift wrap,”­ “¬it’s complete.”­ “¬Available from”­ “¬Jake and Micah“­ (“¬ http://www.jakeandmicah.com “­)

For those last minute holiday visits with friends,”­ “¬just tie a ribbon around the”­ “¬Candle with a Cause,”­ “¬created by”­ “¬Jax and Bones to help”­ “¬Rescue Train“­ “¬a nonprofit”­ “¬dog and cat rescue. 100%”­ “¬of the proceeds,”­ “¬when purchased on”­ “¬www.jaxandbones.com”­ “¬ go to benefit”­ “¬www.therescuetrain.org”­ “¬ to save a life of a homeless dog or cat.

It’s the thought that counts,”­ “¬so put some thought into not only the gift but the wrapping too.”­ “¬Happy Shopping”­!

s your dog drinking responsibly? Does he take sips of your beer? Do you find tell-tale nose or tongue prints on your drink glass when you aren’t looking? Then it might be time to pick up a six-pack of Bowser Beer (www.3BusyDogs.com) for the holidays!

Made from beef and chicken broth with pure malt barley, just like in real beer, this beverage also has glucosamine. Bowser Beer contains no alcohol, carbonation or hops, just good clean fun for your dog. The last thing you need is a drunk dog!

My dog loves beer and she sneaks a lick from anyone’s beer ““ she doesn’t discriminate with brand preference. I’m going to pick her up some of this Bowser Beer, which is available in tongue-in-cheek names like Beefy Brown Ale and Cock-A-Doodle Brew!

Make your dog into a responsible drinker, not a booze hound!

Bowser Beer is available at

LA Dogworks
1014 North Highland Ave
Los Angeles CA
www.ladogworks.com
323-461-0742

Pussy & Pooch
564 South Main Street.
Los Angeles CA
www.pussyandpooch.com
213-438-0900

I’ll never forget the day we brought him home. We took about”¦oh”¦a thousand pictures, friends and family came over to meet the cutie patootie and I could barely contain myself from smothering him with kisses and cuddles. Our baby’s name is Flanders, after the beloved character from The Simpsons. Seems an odd name for a baby, right? But you see, this baby is of the canine variety. And for almost 4 years now, he’s been our pride and joy, filling our days with unconditional love and happiness. But we’re about to welcome another baby into our home. Our (human) baby boy will arrive before we know it and needless to say, I’m stressed.

If Flanders were, say, a Labrador or Golden Retriever, I’d be a lot calmer. But Flanders is a mini-dachshund. When I insisted on getting a small city-friendly dog, my husband insisted on the mini-dachshund, despite the breed’s reputation for shall we say, not being the biggest fan of children. According to my husband, mini-dachshunds have “big-dog personalities”. He was right. In a nutshell, Flanders is like the boyfriend no one understands why you’re dating. You swear to your friends that he’s the most loving, loyal, affectionate, well-behaved, little mush ball when you’re alone together; but around visitors, he’s is like a stressed out Mr. Hyde with a Napoleon complex, barking to show that it’s his territory.

I’ll admit we’re partly to blame. Though we enrolled him in basic obedience class as a puppy, Flanders can still definitely be considered what you’d call “˜top dog’. In other words, we’re not what the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, would call “˜pack leaders’. It’s supposed to go Exercise, Discipline…then Affection. It’s definitely the other way around with us. Though I’m hoping Flanders will come to regard his little brother as a member of his family who he loves and protects, I can’t help but wonder if jealousy and resentment are on the horizon.

Rather than take the “˜wait and see’ approach, we decided to be as proactive as possible. We scheduled an appointment with our dog trainer, Wally of www.caninecompleteinc.com. After a few private lessons using leash and remote collar training, Flanders was considerably more obedient, calmer and more responsive to our commands. Admittedly, we still gave him tons of affection, but we did so on our terms, not his. Some people are horrified when they see the remote “˜shock’ collar (especially since it looks so big around our 8 lb pupster), but we rarely, if ever, have to use the shock feature. Simply wearing the collar calms Flanders down and reminds him that it’s time to listen to his mommy and daddy.

Another option is the use of a citronella collar. The scent of the spray, which is emitted in response to the dog’s bark, distracts or startles the dog so he stops barking (and stops any negative behavior that comes along with it). Depending on how your dog responds, this collar (which is totally safe and humane) could save you a lot of headaches, not to mention phone calls from complaining neighbors. There are many brands of such collars offered on www.amazon.com. You can also visit www.DogsandStorks.com for exercises on how to limit those annoying attention-seeking behaviors and for a bunch of tips on how to acclimate your baby to your”¦well, other baby!

We also brought in a “˜practice baby’. The 14″ You & Me Fuss ‘n Love Baby Doll from www.ToysRus.com moves its arms and legs, giggles and cries (sort of) like a real baby. Though I feared Flanders would destroy the doll with the same gusto he destroys his plush toys with, surprisingly, he was curious but gentle when I was pretending to breastfeed”¦yes, breastfeed”¦the doll. Sure, my husband and I felt ridiculous treating this doll as if it were a real baby (we even put baby powder on it), but hey, we’re desperate to make this work. We also took Flanders on many a’ walk attached to the stroller. Again, as stupid as we felt walking down the street with a fake baby in a stroller, this exercise helped us (as well as the dog) feel more prepared and in control.

Though I am nervous that Flanders will be jealous of his brother and the attention (not to mention stuffed animals and toys) he’ll receive, I’m still hopeful. A good tip I learned watching the DVD from www.dogsandstorks.com is to bring out toys and treats only when the baby is around. In turn, the dog will come to associate the baby with all things positive and fun. Scenting the dog’s toys with almond oil to designate which toys belong to whom is another measure you can take to avoid confusion.

Our trainer also suggested we give Flanders time each day to enjoy being separated from us in his crate. And rather than give him run of the house when we’re out, we keep him in the kitchen. Setting such boundaries now will help later ““ especially during the baby’s tummy time on the floormat and down the line when the baby starts crawling and then walking. Though I hope the need to separate them will exist only when we have other moms and their babies in the house, when it’s especially difficult to supervise adequately, again, I’d rather get Flanders used to such possible scenarios and err on the side of caution.

To ease my guilty conscience and help make Flanders feel safe and secure throughout all of this, I plugged in some Comfort Zone, a formula that mimics the calming pheromones that are secreted by canine mothers around their newborns. The liquid (which comes as a monthly plug-in or as a spray to use in rooms, crates or other enclosed areas) is natural and safe to use around you and your newborn (www.petcomfortzone.com).

Visit the www.DogsandStorks.com website for tips on what to do before and after bringing the baby home from the hospital. For instance, you might want to have your partner bring home one of the baby’s blankets before mommy gets home. Allow your dog to sniff the blanket and give him treats as he investigates, while reminding him of the expected behaviors you practiced ahead of time. Also, someone besides mommy should hold the baby when she first arrives home from the hospital and ideally, the dog would have gotten some playtime or exercise before this arrival.

As I watched a friend of mine breastfeeding her baby as her dog sat curled up right next to her, I found myself repeating like a mantra, “that’s going to be me, that’s going to be me’. And I sincerely hope and pray that it will be. I’m sure it’ll be a challenge and it’ll take a lot of discipline and dedication from my husband and me to create a safe environment for both baby and dog. But as anyone with a dog can attest, it simply cannot be any other way.