FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE

The Right Dogma Can Improve Your Karma:

happytails Canine Spa Line Premiers Holiday Spa Collections

Los Angeles, CA, October 9, 2008- Happytails Canine Spa Line, Inc recently premiered their new Holiday Spa Collections, Santa Paws and Hanukkah Hound for the dog about town.

Kevin Fisher, co-founder of happytails says, “We have four marvelous ways for you to say "good job" to the favorite canine(s) in your life. You can take a festive approach with our Santa Paws and Hanukkah Hound Collections, give a little something special for that trip out of town or reward your best friend with a Spa day. Whichever option you chose you can be sure that you’re giving the very best.”

Both collections include four 2oz. bottles of happytails products that will make your dog feel valued and pampered all year round. The collections contain: Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo for dry and itchy skin, Fur Butter (or Fur Worse) a super rich conditioner to nourish and rejuvenate a lackluster coat, Dog Smog Remedy that helps eliminate bad breath and gas, and Fur Breeze (Citrus Vanilla) a spray that’s more than just perfume, it eliminates odors and leaves your dog smelling fresh.

This collection is a ready-to-give gift for the dog lover and their dog; it even comes with a gift tag. Consider your holiday shopping complete with either one of these collections. The Santa Paws collection will have your dog jumping higher than eleven lords a-leaping, while the Hanukkah Hound will have your little mensch lighting up the festival of lights. Keep in mind that the right dogma can improve the performance of your Karma.

Los Angeles-based happytails sells and markets happytails spa products for the dog about town. happytails Canine Spa Line uses the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients available to pamper, soothe and beautify today’s harried hound. The products can be ordered through the company website at www.HappytailsSpa.com or by calling 1-866-HAPPY-20.

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Contact:

Xiomara Iraheta

happytails Canine Spa Line

2140 Westwood Blvd. Suite 206

Los Angeles , CA 90025

Phone: (310) 470-3051

e-mail: Xiomara@happytailsspa.com

Upgrade from Petting to Massage

by Xiomara Iraheta

Massaging your dog can be beneficial for various health reasons; it can increase blood circulation, help relieve aches and pains, reduce blood pressure and even soothe away fears. But massaging an elderly dog can really tune you to your dog’s evolving body. Best of all, it will make you two feel closer than ever before knowing that you enjoy caring for one another.

It’s best to establish a routine for massage time with your dog, try doing it once a week and gradually doing it daily but don’t let it become a chore; it should remain a pleasant experience for the both of you.

First, you want to ease them into the massage by setting the mood or calming them down with Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer all you have to do is s pray the product into your hand and let your dog breathe in the soothing aroma of lavender and chamomile essential oils and they’ll be enchanted. Spray it on their coat and you’ll have a well conditioned and detangled coat to run your fingers through. If you’ve got more of an anxious or nervous dog you may want to try Sleepytime Tonic that will nourish their physical nervous system and set them to enjoy the pleasures of massage.

If you’re living with a city dog, you’re probably used to leaving them home alone for the majority of the day-so the next time you call out, “Honey, I’m home” why not rekindle your love with a massage using some of the following techniques.

Palm Strokes:

Take your palms and slightly cup them. Place them face down on a large part of your dog’s body, like the back. Working your hands in a breast-stroke-like motion (or wax- on wax-off motion) massage your pet outward. Stroke heavy on the way up and lighter on the way down. The variation in the pressure makes it more pleasurable for your dog.

Thumb Strokes:

Draw tiny circles with your thumbs, using both simultaneously. Apply a good amount of pressure, slowly in circular movements to produce a tingly sensation. Beware not to apply this technique directly on the spine because it’s painful so do it on each side which feels great.

Quack Strokes:

Take your hands and form duck beaks or bills facing each other, have both slightly open and motion so that the bottom part of one goes inside the other. Work diagonally on your dog using a rhythmic pattern. Apply more pressure on the hindquarters than the abdomen area.

Factors to consider with Joint Mobility

· Hindquarters - since they’re using their back legs a lot less the circulation to their kidneys get reduced. Gently massage their back legs with thumb strokes and feel out their stiff and tense muscles. Only begin to press a little deeper when his muscles relax.

· Weight - a recent study published claimed that half of pets are overweight. Carrying around extra weight makes mobility even harder on your aging dog. If you’re not sure whether your dog’s weight is affecting their joint mobility make sure to ask your vet for more specific diet advice.

· Exercise - he may not be as mobile as before but taking more frequent walks for shorter distances can help keep your dog active and healthy as he ages.

· Collagen - is the most abundant protein found in joint cartilage and New Bio Cell Collagen Type II helps build new cartilage and reduce further damage to the joints. This patented, all natural ingredient is extremely absorbable so more of the formula gets to the site of the problem. Joint Resolution by happytails helps improve joint mobility and flexibility, promote healthy strong connective tissue, is easy to administer and is organically grown and ethically harvested herb.

*For more massage tips and advice see Jane Buckle’s How to Massage Your Dog and Maryjean Ballner’s Dog Massage .

Creating Doggie Nirvana at Home

by Xiomara Iraheta

You’ve rightfully treated yourself to a series of outdoor activities this summer but your four-legged friend has been stuck at home. So why not thank them for their loyalty and unconditional love with a special Doggie Spa Day at home.

To set the mood, start by playing relaxing music of your choice and lighting a couple of candles to introduce your dog to aromatherapy. Make sure the candles are set high or away from a wagging tail.

Using a gentle tone of voice and positive verbal praises will assure your dog that he’s been a good boy and that the bath that’s about to ensue is no ordinary one.

Paying special attention to the bath’s water temperature is key to initiating physical contact with your little buddy, make sure it’s not too cold and not too hot.

Begin by applying a soothing oatmeal shampoo, like Comfy Dog that will help replenish that itchy and dry skin from summer dirt, sand and sun damage.

Surely you want to work your fingers down to the root of the hair but now you’re doing more than simply washing you can motion your hands into a deep-tissue like massage while lathering in the super rich conditioner, Fur Butter .

As soon as your dog is getting ready to pass out from your relaxing massage and he’s all rinsed off you can add a little extra touch of shine to their coat with happytails’ Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer , just spray a bit of the intoxicating lavender aroma and the brush out will prove to be nothing less than pleasurable.

Continue to dry and brush out your little one, taking in the incredible sight and smell of your brand new and fully rejuvenated dog.

And now it’s time for PAWdicures! bowWOW Butter Balm is perfect for those dry, cracked paws, apply some bowWOW and those paw pads will heal and feel conditioned. Rub a little on their nose to keep it moist and delicious. You can get in on the action too, since bowWOW is all natural and human safe it’s great for your dry cuticles, elbows and dry patches.

This unique time and attention you’ve dedicate to your dog may seem like a real TREAT but you can really prove their worth by having an assortment of yummy treats at hand.

Think it may be tough to track down the essentials for this Doggie Spa Day, think again, click here and you and your pup are on the road to creating your own sanctuary.

Is there really any difference between dog shampoo & human shampoos?

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. Try Healthy Skin Shiny Coat an all natural herbal detoxifier that you add to your dog’s food. As a topical solutionto relieve itchy skin and soothe skin inflammations try products with colloidal oatmeal , boswellia, burdock and comfrey. 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. Highly acidic shampoos may also diminish the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from the 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!

In the past you might have purchased grooming products to sell in your store or use in your grooming area, now, you buy spa items. You might be wondering what’s the difference between grooming & spa, and how can you explain those differences to your customers and justify the higher price point?

Grooming focuses on one aspect of the dog- a temporary external appearance. Spa (which is an acronym for Sanitas Per Aquas- healing through water) recognizes that beauty is much more than skin deep. So really, you’re selling much more than spa products, you’re selling a life style by:

1. Focusing on the inside & outside health of the dog - overall health can’t be achieved by just keeping your dog clean (although it certainly helps), dogs (& humans) must also pay attention to their internal well-being by eating a healthy all natural diet, like that from The Honest Kitchen , taking vitamins, herbal elixirs and herbal supplements.

2. Appealing to all of the senses - spa products stimulate smell, sight, taste and even hearing. Aromatherapy is commonly associated with the spa experience, and while smell is just one of the applications of aromatherapy , it is a powerful one.  Spa products generally contain essential oils, which are much more therapeutic (and expensive) than synthetic fragrances. Sound and music are also important and there are many CDs available specifically designed to help calm dogs like that from Alpha for Pets .

3. Taking care of the dog’s mental well-being - dogs get nervous too (have you seen a dog during fireworks or a thunderstorm?) Products like Sleepytime Tonic can aid in relaxation and is also wonderful to use during travel, before trips to the vet & groomer, before obedience school (so the dog is more attentive) and during thunderstorms.

Another important thing we forget about is exercise. Without lots of exercise most dogs become bored, lethargic and generally unhappy. In fact, Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, said that the most three most important things to give youor dog, in order of importance, are exercise, obedience and affection.

4. Caring about the environment - Spa products are typically more natural, healing, and environmentally friendly. Products that contain botanical and herbal extracts are going to cost more than those that don’t. Beware of shampoos that are pink, purple or other bright colors. These have coloring in them and are not natural!

5. Offering High-Quality formula - Generally those who create spa products go to great length to make sure that the formula is not only efficacious but safe and gentle as well. Harsh products will be irritating to the skin and will not take into consideration the PH balance of a dog’s gentle skin

6. Caring for the Dog’s Emotional Well-Being It’s important that your customers spend quality time with their dogs. Light a candle. pour a glass of wine (for the human, not the dog) and give a doggie massage. Moisturize those paw pads , condition that coat , and chill out while the smell of lavender and chamomile wafts through the room. This will do the dog owners.

7. Providing Excellent Service - Consumers who purchase spa products generally expect some personal service. You have probably noticed that retailers don’t sell Chanel the same way they sell Cover Girl. Cover Girl is a low-cost self- service line which doesn’t require a lot of explanation while Chanel, and other high end products, comes with lots of demonstration, samples and personal service. Some customers appreciate that extra service, and will pay for it.

In a nutshell- ‘SPA’ is much more then a bottle of shampoo. It’s about creating a healthy lifestyle and spreads across many product types- grooming, food, vitamins/supplements, toys and even services like dog training.

Product Ideas

Spa/Grooming
Happytails Canine Spa Line

Towels
Farfetched

Healthy Food
The Honest Kitchen

Treats
Dogswell
Music
Alpha for Pets

Spa Robes
Barking Baby