We’re doing some “landscape renovation” in our backyard, and I’m wondering whether we should provide the pups a little hang-out spot of their own in the design (although they pretty much hang out wherever they please, including in the garden, which is technically off limits). The modern doghouses from Decatur, Georgia’s Meset Shop definitely have me inspired.
This hand-stamped aluminum dog tag is plain, simple, and straightforward… for the dog who needs to come with a caveat. (My Dottie should probably be required to wear this by law.) Fetch it from Billetdoux.
Upcycling – I hate the word but love the concept. I’m always concerned with how much trash and waste I produce, so I get excited when things are recycled and reused rather than whisked off to landfills. Eco-friendly company Better Buddies (co-created by General Hospital star Julie Marie Berman) recycles old yoga mats and turns them into placemats for dogs and cats. The mats undergo a rigorous sanitation process (and if you’ve ever done a hot yoga class, you know that’s important) and cut into colorful dishwasher-safe and non-skid food mats. To that awesome idea, I say: Namaste. (Better Buddies also donates 10% of profits to the Best Friends Society’s Guardian Angel program, so they’re doing good two times over!)
My dogs love boarding, and — let’s be frank — sometimes I don’t mind a little vacation from them. If you’re traveling with dogs, however, it can sometimes be hard to find accommodations that welcome two- and four-leggers alike. Enter DogWonderful. This easily-navigable travel resource site quickly points you toward dog-friendly accommodations in your destination, complete with detailed information on each hotel’s pet policy — and you can book your room straight from the site. There’s also flight and rental car resources as well as features on dog-friendly destinations. DogWonderful provides so much information, the only question that remains is whether your dogs will welcome you on their vacation.
All kinds of dogs inhabit the work of Matte Stephens, a painter and illustrator from Portland, Oregon. I love the colors, the characters, and the clever little stories his paintings tell. Matte has worked with clients like Herman Miller, Jonathan Adler, and Sunset magazine. You can see more on his website, in his Etsy shop, and after the jump.
The London Olympics have been over for something like 100 sad, boring hours now (but who’s counting?). I don’t know about you, but I’m missing the Games real hard, and I’m missing all the gorgeous shots of England and basically everything British (even you, Prince Harry). If your Anglophile heart is also longing for London, perhaps this line of British-inspired dog beds from Unleashed Life will tickle your fancy.
While many urban areas in the United States are becoming more and more dog-friendly, we’ve long been playing catch-up to much of Europe, where dogs are often more readily welcomed in businesses and restaurants. The IKEA in Köln, Germany doesn’t allow dogs (except for guide dogs) in the store, but they’ve added a special “dog parking” section in front of their store for shoppers who stop in accompanied by their dogs. Like much of what IKEA does, I think it’s pretty brilliant.
