With warm weather approaching, it’s the perfect time to host an event or two in your store to build community, entice people to shop in your store, and to just have a good time!

This is a list we compiled of different events around the country specifically designed for hounds and humans.

Mutt Mingle – Once a month event where people and their dogs are invited to come socialize at the store, snacks & drinks available.

Paws on the Patio – Pet Adoptions

Vet Days – The first Sat. of every month vets are available at the store to perform routine stuff such as shots, clip nails and more

The Anti Super bowl Party – Champagne & cupcakes served, 25% off all non sports related merchandise (which is basically the whole store).

Compliments of Pussy & Pooch in Los Angeles, CA

“Canines and Cocktails for a Cause ”

Loews Annapolis Hotel and Paws Pet Boutique host “Canines and Cocktails for a Cause,” a summer-long series of fund-raisers in Annapolis to benefit area animal shelters and other causes.

Each dog-friendly Friday night event will have its own theme (not to mention “cocktails, appetizers, mocktails and Snoopy snacks.”) and will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the hotel.

Some of the Themes include:

• “ Bark and rejoice.” Prizes will be given for unique barks. With nearly 60 beagles seeking homes, representatives will be on hand to answer questions about Westminster’s top dog. Proceeds go to Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland .

• “Black is beautiful .” Black dogs are the focal point, but dogs of all colors are invited to attend. Pam Townsend, a board member of SPCA and Humane Society of Prince George’s County, has published Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs , a book that touts the beauties and desirable traits of black dogs, which statistically tend to be the least likely to be adopted. Proceeds go to SPCA/Humane Society of Prince George’s County.

• “Wagging contest.” Dogs will partake in a tail-wagging contest. Prizes will be given and guests enter raffle drawings. Proceeds go to Fidos for Freedom , which provides companionship to residents of the Baltimore-Washington area through specially trained service, hearing or therapy dogs.

• “Ice cream social.” A doggie ice cream-eating contest will be part of this event, proceeds from which go to Mid-Atlantic Westie Rescue .

• “Fashion show.” Dogs will take to the catwalk to model the latest fall styles from Paws Pet Boutique. Donations will be made to Modest Needs

Compliments of Paws Pet Boutique which raised over $13,000 in 2007 for pet-related causes .

Health, Wellness & Spaw Day With Doga Yoga!
The event will feature valuable health and wellness advice from pet nutrition experts, pet massage therapy demonstrations, dog behavior and obedience advice, calming aromatherapy treatments for dogs and cats, free refreshments, tray-passed wholesome dog treats and giveaways. A portion of the day’s proceeds will be donated in-kind to local animal welfare organizations. Free pet massage therapy from 11-3PM. Massage is a powerful tool to improve the physical, emotional, and mental health of your dog. Dogs naturally seek, and readily accept, the power of touch for healing and comfort.

For the best spa products to use during your Spaw day try Happytails Canine Spa Line

Beagle Mingle & Howling Contest
Join us for a howling good time. Bring your beagles and join us for a howling contest. Prizes will be given for the longest howl, loudest howl and most entertaining!

Mutt Mingle
Would you like some fleas with your whine? Enjoy cheese and wine tastings for you while you pup enjoys Fido Friendly vino and treats. Oh what a night!

Herding Dog Day
Enjoy a fun appreciation day for border collies, aussies, heelers, Old English Sheepdogs, Shelties & Corgis. Learn more about your breed, current sports they excel at and where your dog came from and what they grew up herding. Plus, meet other herder parents like you, receive 10% off your purchase and mutts more.

Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hound Day
Grab your hound and come on down for a fun hound day. Enjoy free goodie bags for canines and light refreshments & snacks for humans as well as “Pup-paw-razzi” will be present. Plus, enter your hound in the howling contest at 2 pm.

These were compliments of Muttropolis in Solana Beach (San Diego) CA

WOOFSTOCK is an fundraising event we host every summer, on the coast of Maine. We team up with the Rotary Club for a day of pet-related seminars and demos, which in the past have included a pet communicator, agility demo, vet seminars, flyball demos and family fun pet show.

There are usually between 6-8 shelters/rescues in attendance, all of who host services/activities at their tables. We also have between 30-35 pet-related service and product vendors, as well as a Silent Auction with items donated from our vendors.

In the past 3 summers, we have donated over $15,000 to the shelters/rescues in attendance. Every cent from this event is donated to them. Our best table last year was “taste testing”. Evangers, one of our food companies, donated a case of food to the shelter of choice if an attendee was willing to eat half a can of dog food. We donated over 40 cases of food!

We have great turnout- last year we had over 500 people and their dogs in attendance, and it is a great way to give back to the community and get the word out about pet adoption. And…its FUN!!!

Compliments of Aubrey Martin of The Animal House

Battle of the Rescue Groups!

We’re hosting a big event in our parking lot - the 1st Annual South Austin Rescue Rescue! We’re having 7 rescues out for a “friendly competition” to see which rescue can pull in the most attendees and thus the most donations!

We have 3 live bands playing and our posters are more like concert posters than “rescue event” posters - they ROCK!

The rescues can sell merchandise, have kissing booths, whatever they want that they think will bring in the most donations. The “winning” rescue will receive 180 pounds of dog food from Nature’s Variety, vet service certificates, dog washes, training and daycare days for foster dogs, and more!

The remaining rescues will receive 10% of sales from us, the coffee shop next door, and 5% of sales from the bike shop next to us - it is going to be a great time! Our parking lot will be closed off and everyone is of course allowed to bring their dogs on leash to enjoy the music and the day! =)

Compliments of The Furr Factor

SHOP FOR A CAUSE

We are planning Shop-for-a-Cause Events. We will do this once a month and a portion of all proceeds will go to a non-profit, dog related organization. We will have reps from the organizations and dogs available for adoption on hand. We were also thinking about doing 2 Wild Card nights each year where the customer can pick the organization of their choice instead of a predetermined organization.

Compliments of Must Love Dogs Boutique & Spa

BEST IN SHOW

We are an in-home pet accessories party biz. We always donate a portion of our profits to animal welfare, but we are planning a special event “movie night” party when we will screen the all time favorite “Best in Show”. Our products will be set up thematically, (spa, toys, treats, etc.) to go along with the film. Popcorn, ice-cream, movie snacks served, and a follow up contest for a “Best in Show” photo of a dog using one of the purchases from the evening!

Compliments of Pawsh Parties

Other Themes

Yappy Hour

Maltese Meet Up

Pug Pick ups

Powder Puff Days

FUN DRINK IDEAS

• Key West-Highland Terrier,
• Bichon Bellini
• Wide Awake Whippet (with a kick of espresso).
• the Spaniel, a mixed drink with Grey Goose vodka, Lillet Blanc fortified wine and Plymouth gin
• Chocolate Labrador martini
• Poodle colada

The other day I found myself mesmerized by an article about a wedding ceremony recently performed in Florida. What made this ceremony so special were the participants;

"Tiffany is an 8-year-old standard poodle and Skipper is a 12-year-old beagle/jack russell mix. On Saturday they will take a break from their therapy dog roles and don a wedding dress and tux before some of their closest friends. Actual vows will be exchanged – doggie style – and a champagne reception complete with “people” and “doggie” wedding cakes and hors d’oeuvres will immediately follow".

But that wasn’t the interesting part, after all, I work in the pet industry so I see a lot of this kind of thing, the paragraph that got me thinking was:

“Skipper ditched his old wife for a younger one with Tiffany,” said Helen Savill, of the Treasure Coast Humane Society.
“The wedding is the second marriage for both.”

I have heard of quite a few dog weddings but this was the first time I’d heard of a doggie divorce. And this got me thinking; with the human divorce rate above 50% what do dogs know that we don’t (I should say in the interests of full disclosure that I am part of the divorced 50%)

Let’s crunch the numbers. Taking an admittedly small sample (me) I have heard of about two dozen doggie weddings over the last five years and in that same time this is the first divorce I’ve encountered. Given a sampling error rate of 5-10 % (I’m wrong about 10% of the time) that still leads us to the the conclusion that up to 90% of all doggie marriages are successful. That’s amazing!

So what can we learn from our canine compadres? I’ve drawn up a list of the ten things dogs can teach us about marriage.

1. Make sure your marriage is arranged, preferably by someone who feeds you regularly and is happy to pick up your poop. It’s a fact of life that anyone who picks up your poop must really have your best interests at heart. (let me also point out here that arranged marriages have been the norm rather than the exception for most of human history)

2. Your partner doesn’t always have to be of the opposite sex.
(Especially if you live in Massachusetts) Remarkable but true! I’ve heard of several same sex doggie weddings that are still going strong years later. Draw your own conclusions here

3. Leg humping is an art form, and like any art form, practice makes perfect.

4. There’s no reason why the wedding should be limited to only two parties. I have heard of several situations where three or more dogs have participated in the festivities (It also spices up the honeymoon no end) Of course these dogs all lived in Utah and are currently evading the law.

5. It’s not the size of the snozzage, it’s the tastiness of the treat…of course no matter how tasty the treat bad breath is inexcusable, especially on the wedding night! A few squirts of Dog Smog Remedy Breath Freshener will prevent this muttrimonial "faux paw"

6. Always dress up for your wedding. Tuxedos and wedding dresses, are a must, however it seems less important that the clothes actually stay on throughout the entire ceremony (I have to say however that for the majority of human weddings long term clothing retention is a definite plus…I for one prefer my relatives clothed) A little spritz of Shimmering Mist is an excellent way to class up even the most dog-eared wedding gown, spray a little on the bride’s "decolletage" for some doggie sparkle.

7. Be loyal

8. Be flexible on rule 7, especially if your being disloyal with someone who has great snacks

9. Don’t take it too seriously. In fact if you feel like going for a pee in the middle of the wedding vows go right ahead, of course your prospective mother in law may have a heart attack. and depending on your relationship with her this could be a good or bad thing.

10. …and please, be responsible, always have have your partner spayed or neutered! (Especially if you catch him with that bitch from down the street!)

These are only the ideas that sprang to my mind. Has your dog taught you any interesting lessons about marriage? Drop us a line and we’ll post the funniest, or most insightful.

Click here to read the press release

We hear this question all the time– "what’s the difference between my shampoo and my dog’s shampoo?"

You may be surprised to learn that a lot is different. Of course, if you run out of Fido’s shampoo and you use your own to wash your dog a couple of times, nothing will happen. Your dog’s hair won’t fall out and life will probably go on as normal.

But there are areas in which human and dog shampoos differ. You may not notice the ill effects of human shampoo if used only a couple of times on your pooch, but after repeated use, you’ll start to see.

1. Ingredients. Dog’s have different problems that humans do. We usually don’t sit around and scratch our heads as much as dogs scratch. This is because dog’s eliminate toxins differently than we do. We can sweat them out. Since dogs really don’t sweat their toxins are eliminated through their kidneys and bowels. With this in mind, we add ingredients to help relieve itchy skin and soothe skin inflammations. The best shampoo to help relieve itchy skin is Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo for Dry & Itchy Skin.

2. Ph Balance. A dog’s skin is about 7.5 while human skin is about 5.5 (to put it in perspective, water is about 7.0). Therefore, a dog’s skin is more alkaline so ideally a dog’s shampoo should be between 6.5-7.5 or it could be irritating to the skin. Highlyacidic shampoos may also diminish the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from teh coat and skin. the result is dry, irritated skin and a dull coat. Of course it’s a vicious cycle because the dog will scratch which only makes the problem worse.

3. Dog’s have sensitive skin- A dog only has about 3-5 cell-layers thick while we have about 10-15 layers thick. So, harsh shampoos with lots of chemicals and those that aren’t PH balanced will be irritating.

The case for conditioners - Shampoos by design are used for cleaning- removing unwanted grime from the skin and coat. But shampooing, without sealing the coat afterwords, leaves the hair shaft open– at that point residue can enter and oils and hydration escapes.

What you can do is use a conditioner after shampooing to close the hair cuticle and restore hydration, moisture and elasticity.

Conditioners also fill in the damaged hair that drying, brushing, dematting and rubbing causes. Just normal wear and tear chips away at the hair cuticle. Conditioners can help to remove the cuticle to a smooth state and one that gives a more lustrous appearance and feel.

The best deep conditioner I’ve used is Fur Butter (or Fur Worse). It’s an oatmeal based ultra rich conditioning treatment for dry, damaged and long coats. It’s the richest conditioner I’ve used and leaves the dog very soft & silky.

So know you know the difference– there really is one!

About three years ago I noticed that my Maltese was limping. She was only one at the time, so I thought it was strange for her to have these problems at such a young age. I took her to the vet and it turns out she had a luxating patella which is a problem with her knee, and apparently is common in small dogs.

The vet gave me some powder to put into her food and in about a month I really started to see results. I was amazed as you normally don’t expect for those things to really work so fast! What the vet gave her was collagen and ever since I have been looking for an application in which to offer collagen in a happytails product.

And so it comes to pass we launch Joint Resolution an all natural herbal elixir that lubricates sore, aching joints through our blend of BioCell Collagen II, herbal extracts, and chondroitin. It’s perfect for dogs suffering from degenerative effects of old age, arthritis or hip dysplasia

Some history on arthritis and joint inflammation:

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis in dogs. Weight bearing joints in hips, elbows and knees are most often affected and the result in often painful inflammation.

Inflammation is the body’s response to tissue injury, irritation or infection. It’s the rush of blood and immune cells to a site of injury for the sake of repair and to signal the need for help. Related symptoms include pain, stiffness, heat tenderness, swelling, fatigue, muscle aches and spasms, and loss of function.

The most common inflammation is joint inflammation and an underlying concern is the impact of inflammation on collagen. This connective tissue helps support blood vessel walls and forms the cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is diminished with inflammation. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacological and Therapeutics showed that collagen had reduced pain and lameness in arthritic dogs and improved the overall activity of the dogs. Collagen Type II is the most abundant protein found in joint cartilage that helps promote new cartilage synthesis and reduces oxidative damage to the joints.

The formula contains a generous amount of Hyaluronic Acid which is an important joint and skin nourishing element which promotes healing and skin tissue rejuvenation. HA is essential in reducing joint friction caused by the joint’s degradation of its natural lubrication.

We’ve also included a blend of herbs in Joint Resolution to work synergistically with BioCell Collagen II including boswellia, devils claw and licorice which all work to reduce inflammation and pain while dandelion is a diuretic to eliminate toxins from the body.

Benefits of Joint Resolution

• Promotes healthy active joints*

• Helps improve joint mobility and flexibility*

• Promotes healthy strong connective tissue*

• Easy to administer

• Liquid absorbs faster into the body than tablets or pills

• All natural- herbs are organic or wild crafted

• A side benefit of collagen is that it promotes healthy skin so

  • A dog may grow a more luxurious coats*
  • healing of skin diseases may be faster*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease.

To learn more about Joint Resolution, click here

BioCell Collagen II® is a registered trademark of BioCell Technology and is the only Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II preparation supported by US Patents # 6,025,327 and 6,323,319 that cover the use and manufacturing of this ingredient. Companies or individuals using any Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II preparation within patented claims other than BioCell Collagen II® in their respective product formulations are infringing on BioCell Technology’s intellectual property.

Jai Rodriguez, one of the stars of the Emmy-winning TV show, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has two Yorkies, Nemo and Dori.

In an article released today on MSNBC he said, “I never leave home without the Sparkle and Shine Shimmering Mist from Happytails Canine Spa line. The product has a hint of glitter and moisturizes fur with silk proteins that also help to repel dirt and prevent doggie odors. I use it to brush out their coats several times a week. I do love a fragrance — I love them to look like dogs but smell like people.”

The article is titled “Groovy spots for gooming Fido on the Road.” Click here to read the entire article.

Jai is now hosting a new doggie reality show called “Groomer Has It” premiering April 12 at 9.00 p.m. (ET/PT), on Animal Planet.