Are these some good looking dog houses or what? They were created by TAP Architecture, an Oklahoma-based architecture firm who participated in The Central Oklahoma Humane Society (OK Humane) My Life as a Dog Challenge, which was held last September.

OK Humane challenged local folks to chain themselves up to dog houses to create a unique reality TV-style contest. The last person to withstand living chained to an eco-friendly dog house won a new natural gas vehicle donated by Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

Sounds silly, but it was all for a good cause — they wanted to raise awareness about the negative social and behavioral effects on dogs who are left chained up. According to OK Humane, “From October 2003 through August 2008, there were at least 257 children killed or seriously injured by chained dogs across the country. Chained dogs, un-socialized with humans, can become very territorial of their tiny space and any child who wanders into this space can be attacked and killed before adults can intervene.” Heather Winlock aka “Beast” from Seminole Oklahoma won the car.

These fantastic dog houses by TAP were part of the event. I kind of wouldn’t mind being chained to one of these versus the typical boring old dog house…but I get the idea that it’s no fun being confined to a small space.

The dog houses were sold after the contest to private owners for personal use.

Photos by Simon Hurst Photography.

New at Fetchdog, these chew toys look like they might go the distance with Beans and Lulu. The Chew Bouncy-Ball, Chew-Rang and Chew-Bouncy Bone are made of Zogoflex®, which is supposed to be a tough, buoyant, pliable, and recyclable material that is nontoxic and FDA compliant.

I have been a fan of Annie’s Sweatshop for quite some time now and love that she’s got some great eco-friendly dog accessories. My current favorite is this modern plaid set that consists of a harness (looks like it’s sold out!), collar, and leash. I love that Annie will give you a $5 rebate if you recycle your old collar or leash with her.

I found these all-natural, biodegradable dog bowls via Daily Kibble. Called Fresh Licks Eco-Disposable Bowls by Everybody Green, they are made from 100% bagrasse, which is the fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices. These bowls are sustainable and great for bringing on trips or to the park, plus you can throw them away without the guilt.

I stopped by the FilzFelt booth at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) this year and they clued me in to Cosmo’s Collars, who make collars from felt and other materials. Made from eco-friendly German felt, these collars can be easily washed in the dishwasher (top rack).

I don’t have a lawn (yet) but if I did I would definitely need something like this Dog Spot Eliminator. Every time I take Beans outside our apartment, he goes in the same spot and there are yellow or brown patches of dead grass, called burns.

The Dog Spot Eliminator doesn’t work right away, it takes about 6 to 7 days to see results. It neutralizes the nitrogen and naturally supplies nutrients back into the grass to help it grow back greener and stronger. You can pre-treat, spot treat, or use it as a lawn fertilizer if there isn’t a specific spot that your pet likes to go. According to Scott DeWaide, president of The Organic Farm Store, it will cut down on future burning by about 60-70% and his customers love it. Plus, it’s completely organic, it’s safe for both your kids and pets.

In addition to a product like this, you can also use a hose to water down the area immediately after your pet urinates in order to flush and dilute the urine.

Have you ever used this product? Do you have any other tips to share for preventing or treating doggie lawn spots?

Italian outdoor company Fuora, is launching DogHouse a modern and stylish dog kennel which requires no maintenance at all. DogHouse is a high quality and high performance dog kennel made with a multi layered birch wood from a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) sustainable source. The wood has been treated with a special thermoplastic overlay to resist all weather conditions. The sides are manually coated with an eco-friendly transparent varnish: “We wanted the core of the wood to be visible,” say designers Manolo Bossi and Alberto Benedetti, founder of Fuora.

The final result is a super stylish, yet practical dog house which requires no maintenance at all and it is easy to clean. It comes flat pack and the assembly does not require any tools, screws, or glue to assemble. It is created from a clever slot system in which 6 wooden panels slide together. It’s available in extra small, small, and medium and available at Urbansuite or Bodie & Fou.

Taryn Zychal is an animal-loving Philadelphia-based designer who, through her company Recycling Zychal tries to keep everyone dry when it rains, even our four-legged friends.

She has designed these dog rain coats and hoods from rescued and recycled umbrellas. The old umbrellas are transformed into fun and functional wet-weather wear for humans and dogs. Recycling Zychal will be presenting this design at EcoTopia, an exhibition featuring twenty exciting new green/sustainable product designs submitted from all over the world being sponsored by Nectar, a Long Beach design consultancy.

Recycling Zychal accepts donations of broken or old umbrellas and will donate $1 to an animal rescue organization for each broken umbrella donated! More details about making a donation or purchasing a raincoat over at Taryn’s Etsy shop.