ORE’ Pet‘s Rustic Words Pet Series is a placemat and a bowl (large or small) with old school lettering featuring the words eat, sleep run, sit, bark, play and YUM!

Clockwise, from top left: Animal Planet Portable Pet Kennel, Skinneez Stuffing-Free Dog Toys, Pet Can Cover, Pooch Treat Bomb Pet Toy, “Woof!” Bone Square Placemat, Pet Supply Organizer

Of course, there is always going to be the merchandise you’re going to want to skip right over. With larger retailers, you aren’t going to have the benefits of a carefully curated boutique. So long as you know what to look out for, you can create your own collection of boutique-worthy finds. I like to look for items with basic and classic shapes, vibrant color combinations, and expensive-looking materials. When looking for toys, I prefer to pass on fuzzy cartoon characters and focus on plush animals and functional rubber toys with clean lines. I also gravitate towards brands I’m familiar with and are known for their quality like Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer Collection. Often times you can find these types of credible brands with larger retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond.

Clockwise, from top left: Animal Planet Pet House, Evri-Pet™ Pet Cleaning Dispenser & Bags, Pet PacSac Quilted Portable Pet Bed, Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer Collapsible Pet Feeder, Mini Black And Cream Paw Scoop, Large Deluxe Pet Carrier

Whatever your reason for wanting to walk past pet boutiques, rest assured that stylish and well-designed products can be found in the most unexpected places. With an editing eye, you can make sure that every product you bring home fits in with the rest of your fabulous finds. Trust me, even the most pampered pooch (or picky partner) won’t know the difference.

This Dog Bowl Tray from A La Mode Dog includes built-in dog bowls and two 1-quart stainless steel bowls. It has a non-skid so your pet eats in place without sliding all over the floor. It also features an outer rim that keeps water from spilling onto the floor, plus it’s easy to clean. Also available for cats.

Hooray! Crate & Barrel has finally jumped on the pet accessories bandwagon, and it’s lovely.

See the whole line on Crate & Barrel’s website.

The fun, colorful Popware for Pets collection of pet dining accessories includes collapsible bowls and travel cups, can lids, mats, and collapsible and adjustable raised feeders.

[via Grassroots Modern]

NYC dwellers take note — FabDog has an MTA NYC Subway collection that features everything from a map food mat and raincoat to fun plushie toys, such as a metrocard and taxi. It’s so adorable, even non-New Yorkers will love it!

As you know, I have two dogs — one big and one little. They share a water bowl, which means I have two large bowls and a small bowl. Most dog food mats are made for two bowls max, which is why I have always had trouble finding one to accommodate three bowls. Over the years I gave up searching and therefore left the bowls on the kitchen floor with no mat, but it became quite messy and frustrating to clean.

One day, while at Bed, Bath & Beyond buying towels or something of the sort, I spotted this boot tray for $7.99. I wondered if the bowls could fit on it. Since it was so cheap, I figured I’d give it a shot and bought it on the spot. Miraculously, all three bowls fit perfectly on it, with a little space to move around. It certainly isn’t the most attractive food mat I’ve ever seen, but it does the job.

The bonus is that the tray has a raised border, which keeps water spills and crumbs from ending up all over my kitchen floor. Who knew a boot tray could do double duty as a catch-all food mat?

Got a double duty idea you want to share? Send it to us!

Modern textile brand Chilewich has added modern pet mats to their lineup. They’re shaped like bones with little dog-shaped cutouts in the middle, woven in their signature basketweave pattern.