dogs

Sit, stay, spa: Pamper your pet with a new skin care line for dogs

Lisa Wogan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:48:29 -0700

I usually wash my dogs in the backyard with the hose. It's a cold, chaotic, treat-heavy experience. But today, I turned my guest bathtub into a mini dog spa to sample one of a new line of animal skin care products recently launched by Bellevue organic chemist Adelia Ritchie.

Pet boutique High Maintenance Bitch reopens in Wallingford

Lisa Wogan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:27:49 -0700

After closing its doors for a long nap, High Maintenance Bitch reopens this weekend.

Camping gear goes to the dogs

Jen Harper — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:07:12 -0700

My two Labs can't speak in human terms (even though I keep telling them that I wouldn't tell anyone if they decided to start talking), but they do have a solid understanding of a handful of words, namely "ball," "eat," "treat," "walk," "swim," "hike" and "camping."

Me and my Germador Spanherd

Lisa Wogan — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:56:56 -0700

Late last winter, I swabbed the inside of my dog's cheek with a Q-tip-sized bristle-brush and sent it off with $65 to the labs of MetaMorphix. The life sciences company in Belstville, Md., had just launched something called the Canine Heritage Breed Test, and I was curious to discover exactly what breeds braided through the DNA of my Seattle Animal Shelter dog. (I've always identified Lulu as a Huskador, a mix of Husky and Labrador Retriever.)

Those paws were made for walking

Lisa Wogan — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:48:00 -0700

Is there anything better than the slightly chaotic thrill of promenading with your best buddy in a crowd of keyed-up canines, talking and laughing (sniffing and barking) with friends and strangers drawn together by a common love of companion animals?

For many of us, this is one of the great rites of summer. Once or twice a month all season long, mixed-species crowds gather to stretch their legs and show support for the shelters and humane organizations that work for the welfare of animals.

Heaven-scent remedies for malodorous mutts

Diana Wurn — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:16:02 -0700

Summer trips to the ocean with my dog are risky. Whenever my Border collie sprints ahead at 40 miles per hour, her nose low to the ground and fixed on some alluring scent, I know I'm in trouble.

I see her tiny body far on the horizon as she swan-dives straight up and right down into whatever odor she has found. It could be a clump of stinky seaweed, a rotting fish carcass or a decomposing bird. After coating herself completely in stink as I run to catch her, she looks up at me and gives me a victorious smile.

Preparation is key to enjoying hikes with your dog

Lisa Wogan — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:37:52 -0700

Sometime in the spring, when most area ski lifts roll to a halt, I imagine dogs across town heave a communal sigh of relief. The season of their people heading to the mountains without them is finally over. Now, when the backcountry beckons, dogs -- trail dogs, that is -- can answer the call. Ahhhh-ooooh.

Because thoroughly enjoying a hike with your dog takes more than a free afternoon and a tank of gas, here are a few trail-vetted preparatory pointers for getting the most out of your next backcountry outing with Gypsy.

DenHaus pet dens elegantly hide beds or litter boxes

Jen Harper — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:03:13 -0700

Your dog or cat is as much a fixture in your home as your sofa -- and so is the hair-covered dog bed or the always-in-need-of-cleaning litter box. For those concerned with appearances, Bellevue pet-furniture company DenHaus offers a stylish alternative for the more unsightly aspects of pet ownership.

Seattle is home to some doggone enterprising pet people

Lisa Wogan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:16:01 -0700

For folks with weak throwing arms who share their home and playtime with an avid retriever, the Chuckit! Ball Launcher is the silver grail of dog gear. Like a lacrosse stick or jai alai cesta, the 27-inch plastic tennis-ball launcher not only triples your tossing range but also reduces hands-on contact with the slobbery projectiles only a dog could love.

Next stop: muzzle lifts and ear jobs?

Lisa Wogan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:20:29 -0700

You know how people with pets project personalities, pet peeves and cartoon voices onto them? It’s not pretty, but almost everyone does it, at least in private. Among the many fantasy aspirations I used to attribute to my Labrador/Shepherd mix, Lulu, was that she wanted to have her ears made larger and erect, a la Rin Tin Tin.