stylish paws Archives - Page 17 of 19

Tag: stylish paws

12
Jan
2017

Product Review: FriendshipCollar

Oscar and Zara are my best friends, and to match my bestties is the most comforting feeling in the world. Whenever I wear my half of our FriendshipCollar, someone will ask what it is and I get to explain the concept that my fur babies and I match, because after all Best Friends Should Match!

The idea is that your pup wears a stylish collar and you wear a matching bracelet. These matching collars and bracelets symbolise an unbreakable bond between you and your furry love. Oscar and Zara give me so much love and happiness on a daily basis so wearing my half of our FriendshipCollar allows me to show them how much I adore them and how unbreakable our bond is. Zara will sit on my lap and lick my bracelet-almost to tell me she understands exactly what this is and what it means!

The collars and bracelets are made from 100% vegan leather and are the worlds first PETA approved dog collar. The quality is unbelievable. It is softer than real leather and super durable. If it can survive being around Zara’s neck it can survive anything 😉

There is a stunning range that is currently available in South Africa and you can shop online at the Stylish Paws online store (click here). All the sizes are clearly stated and there is a size for EVERYONE! Each style has a short description so you can decide which one matches you and your bestie the best. I chose Top Dog for us because “Playful, boisterous and cute as can be, When playtime is over, It’s cuddles next to me” describes both Oscar and Zara perfectly!

Go on, spoil your pets with a gorgeous FriendshipCollar!

Thank you for reading.

03
Jan
2017

January 2017

categories: Calendar

Happy New Year everyone! We hope you all enjoyed the festive season and welcomed 2017 with open arms. We are very excited to see what this year has planned for us and we hope it is a fabulous year for you too.

We hope you enjoy this months calendar featuring Oscar and Zara with their favourite emoji pillow 🙂

Click here to download your January calendar

Thank you for reading

02
Dec
2016

Santa Paws is coming to town.

categories: Holiday fun

Most of us would agree that when it comes to our pets they are our four legged children. And just like any other member of the family, Santa comes to visit them too.

There is so much excitement in our house around Christmas time. This year will be slightly different because we now have an extra stocking to hang up-Zara’s. Oscar knows the drill, I put the Christmas tree and decorations up, bring out the dress up goodies and take a million super cute photo’s of him looking like Santa’s little helper. While putting the Christmas tree up last weekend, there was so much curiosity from Zara. She really did think it was Christmas when she saw this giant tree going up inside as something to chew on and pull all over the house! This year it is strategically placed next to the couch with a coffee table in front of it-yes I am learning how she operates! Santa won’t be able to make his delivery until late on Christmas Eve when Zara’s inquisitiveness has been put to sleep and she is too tired to investigate.

On Christmas morning Oscar is like a proper excited child! He wakes up knowing he has tons of gifts to open and he runs straight to the pile that Santa delivered. Somehow he just knows exactly which ones are for him, and they are not all treats for him to sniff out! He just knows! I love watching him tear open the wrapping paper and his pure excitement with whatever it is he has discovered. He loves new things be it homemade treats, a new teddy to chew the eyes off or a new collar. He loves anything that is just for him. I cannot wait to see the excitement and chaos that Zara will bring to Christmas morning. Of course I will be there with my camera in hand ready to capture the fun and excitement. She is so much fun to be around and she brings so much joy to all of us.

Of course Valentine and Duchess are included in our Christmas celebrations and they get gifts too. They, like Oscar love getting new toys, treats and boxes. And this year will be no different.

Here are some gorgeous goodies that are on Oscar, Zara, Valentine and Duchess’ wish list this year, we hope you find something special for your furry love too…

Friendship Collar

This is a stunning gift for you to share with your furry love! The concept of these collars is beautiful and we are in love with them. Your pup gets a stylish collar and you receive a matching bracelet. The quality of these collars goes far beyond our expectations, they are made from vegan approved leather and super soft. There is a variety of colours and designs to choose from, making sure there is a set to suit everyone. They don’t know it yet but Oscar and Zara have got the Top Dog collection, because after all they are my Top Dogs! Spoil yourself and your pooch, because best friends should match! Click here to shop

PetStages Dog Wood

What pup doesn’t love sticks? We often find ourselves unsure on what type of wood a particular stick is which Zara has brought home with her, many of which are toxic! With the PetStages Dog Wood Toys, you don’t have to worry. This toy is so durable, made from innovative material that combines real wood with durable synthetic material to create a stronger, safer stick. The natural wood smell attracts and keeps Zara’s interest for hours. Zara loves her Dog Wood so much that she has asked Santa for another one 😉 Click here to shop

Four Paws and Me Box

Four Paws and Me offers a wonderful box filled with surprises for you and your pooch. The limited edition Christmas boxes are filled with wonderful goodies that won’t disappoint! There is a box for everyone with three different options to choose from. When Oscar and Zara received their November box, there was so much excitement and I got to share a gift with my fur babies-what could be better than that? Have some fun opening a gift with your pup too. When placing your order use the code STYLISHPAWS and R10 from each sale will go to Woodrock Animal Rescue. Click here to shop

Egg Shaped Pet Pod

These Egg Shaped Pet Pods from Cosmic Pets are absolutely gorgeous and are on Valentine and Duchess’ Christmas list. Of course they can be used for cats and small breed dogs too. It comes with a soft inner velvet cushion and a fleece blanket to keep your furry love happy and comfy. Make sure your furry love sleeps in style, they deserve it. Click here to shop

Pupcorn

No Christmas stocking is complete unless it has treats in it-Oscar knows this all too well! Spoil your pets with some yummy Pupcorn they will want all year round. Choose from two yummy flavours for your pup to tuck into while you enjoy your Christmas treats. The food we eat is often far too rich for Oscar and Zara so instead they can have fun with their Pupcorn without feeling sick later. Click here to shop

Christmas Bandana

Make your pup feel extra special this Christmas in a one of a kind Christmas Bandana from Swanky Mongrel. Sizes available fit Yorkies to Rottweilers, so everyone is included. Each bandana is made with tons of love. Go on, spoil Santa’s little helper, he has been a good boy! Click here to shop

Cat Collar

Cats love to show off so why not make your kitty feel extra special with a new stylish Gummi collar for him to show off to all his friends. These collars are durable and come with a removable bell and have a safety strip too. There is a variety of colours to choose from, and when held under a uv light they glow in the dark-how awesome!! Click here to shop

Cat Nip Spray

What cat doesn’t love cat nip? Let your kitty go a little wild with this Cool Cat cat nip spray. Simply spray it on your cats toys, bedding and scratch posts and watch them have fun. Click here to shop

Cat Feather Buddy

Fill your cats stocking with these super cute Feather Buddy’s from PetStages. Feather Buddy will become your kitty’s new best friend. With bunches of colourful feathers, this cute creature offers hours of play. So spoil your kitty this Christmas. Click here to shop

Cat Tree

Cat tree’s are awesome and your cat thinks so too! Valentine and Duchess have also asked for a cat tree for Christmas, are they bunnies or are they cats-haha? Cat tree’s provide so much entertainment for your kitty and it will keep him from scratching things he shouldn’t… You can also hide some feather buddy’s in the tunnels and spray come cat nip spray on it too. Make this Christmas amazing for your kitty. Click here to shop

Little Critters Rescue Club

Christmas time at Little Critters is not always a happy and festive time. Families want to go away on holiday and it is the Little Critters who suffer, being abandoned without a second thought. If you can, any donation would be greatly appreciated. No pet deserves to be abandoned and left unwanted around a time that is supposed to be all about families coming together. Please email lauren.namer@iburst.co.za if you would like to donate. Click here to visit their Facebook page

We hope we have given you some wonderful ways to spoil your furry loves this Christmas! This year will be chaos in our house and I cannot wait!! We wish you a wonderful festive season. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Thank you for reading

01
Dec
2016

December

categories: Calendar

It’s December, the most wonderful time of the year.

We would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Download your December calendar here

Thank you for reading.

23
Nov
2016

Little Critters Rescue Club.

categories: Valentine and Duchess

My mom and I were fortunate enough to visit the Little Critters Rescue Club at the beginning of November. We took some much needed supplies and we wanted to spend some time and get to know each Little Critter. We fell in love with all the critters, including the permanent residents! It is such a special place and one that is close to my heart, especially since Valentine and Duchess came into my life. When Lauren opened the door we were greeted by the cutest pack of wagging tails. Marmite, Peanut, Misty, Molly and Barney to be exact. Isabel who is one of Lauren’s rescue cats quite proudly showed us where the Critters were and then demanded some tummy tickles as a reward for her efforts.

Lauren started Little Critters Rescue Club out of pure love and adoration for smaller pets such as rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice and chinchillas. The club is a rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing center, but of course some of the critters that come in become permanent residents, mostly because they are special needs critters.

Lady, Gladys and Odette, the permanent residents

We met Gladys who was an abused little guinea pig girl who now has scars across her back. Her fur is long enough to cover them up and when you look at her you would never know just how hurt she was before she came to Little Critters. She was so friendly to my mom and I, we even got little piggy cuddles. She melted our hearts!

Lady is another piggy permanent resident who was so over bred that her bottom eyelids suffered such trauma from inbreeding that they now protrude outwards. She also has ovarian cysts and has had many ovarian issues as a result from all the breeding and she needs constant care. We also got piggy cuddles from her and she was such a sweet heart.

And then there is Odette, who is very special to Lauren! She has kidney failure and needs three supplemented feeds a day to make sure she gets all the vitamins, proteins and fluids she needs!

Then we met Sooty and Sweep, two cute baby bunny sisters! Lauren hand fed these babies and taught them everything they know. Luckily at the same time they came in, another guinea pig family came in and the three amigo baby guinea pigs and Sooty and Sweep became inseparable. Luigi, Herbie and Peanut are such curious little boys. My mom and I could have sat for hours listening to them chat amongst themselves, feed from their mom, explore their surroundings and play with Sooty and Sweep.

Sooty and Sweep are gorgeous baby bunnies and remind me of Duchess

The Critters live a life of luxury while at the club. They have access to a massive mansion that has ramps, pillows, hideouts and lookouts. When they are not relaxing in their mansion they have access to the most awesome herb garden where they can run free and just be Little Critters! There is also a playground for everyone to enjoy with things to jump over, hide under and gnaw on.

Visiting Little Critters has inspired me and given me new ideas on how I can improve Valentine and Duchess’ play room, hutch and outdoor area.

Before any adoptions, strict home checks and interviews take place. It is very important that anyone wanting to adopt is doing so for the right reasons. Lauren will also educate the adoptive family on proper care, food requirements and how to keep your Little Critter truly happy.

These critters were abused, abandoned and not cared for, yet they still have enough love and trust in them to allow us to show them what its like to be loved, it honestly is heart warming.

The guinea pig family enjoying a meal together — The guinea pig family

This Christmas I ask you to please think of these Little Critters.

Before Valentine and Duchess came into my life I had no idea just how much effort goes onto making sure they are kept happy and healthy! Meal times are a lot more than a lettuce leaf and a carrot. Despite their size, their food bill and toy bill is costly. I can’t imagine having more than two Critters to feed and look after. If you can, please donate any amount to the Little Critters Rescue Club. They always need Burgees Pellets, Timothy Hay, blankets to snuggle in, and interactive toys. You can contact Lauren on lauren.namer@iburst.co.za and please be sure to follow them on Facebook (click here) and Instagram (click here), every share is one step closer to finding these Little Critters their perfect forever home!

Thank you for reading

01
Nov
2016

Happy November!

categories: Calendar

Happy November! Wishing you a wonderful month.

Download your November Calendar here

Thank you for reading.

18
Oct
2016

Cancer in dogs.

categories: Oscar

Cancer is a devastating disease, and most of us have been affected by it in some way or another. Either ourselves, a family member or a friend. Our pets can get cancer too, and like any disease, early detection is the key to recovery!

Did you know that our furry loves can get the same types of cancer that we can, namely; Lung Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Brain Tumour, Lymphoma, Skin Cancer, Bone Cancer and Mammary Carcinoma, just to name a few!

I personally have not experienced cancer in any of my pets, but I like to be informed and clued up on what exactly I should look for. I am constantly giving Oscar doggy massages (click to read how to give the perfect doggy massage), and so I am always feeling for lumps, bumps and sore spots. Now that we have baby Zara I check her out too, but what exactly am I looking for…?

October is Cancer awareness month so I thought it fitting to explore this topic and provide tips on reading the signs…

Lumps, bumps and sores: It is very important that you take note of any new lumps or bumps that form under your dogs skin. It is always a good idea to get the new lump checked out by your vet as soon as possible, don’t wait to see if it grows, disappears or changes in any way. Sores that do not heal are also a cause for concern. Take note of when your first noticed it so you can provide your vet with accurate information.

Bleeding or discharge: If you notice any sort of bleeding or discharge coming from any part of your pups body, it is a sign that treatment of some kind is needed. Your vet will be able to identify the cause of the problem and advise the proper treatment needed.

Lethargy: Sometimes this may be a difficult one to identify especially when it is mid summer and temperatures reach well into the 30’s. A good way to test this is offer your pooch his favourite treat, if he does not get up and show willingness to receive his treat then take him for a check up your vet.

Difficulty breathing or going to the bathroom: Some dog breeds naturally have difficulty breathing and so you need to be extra vigilant with them. If you notice your pooch suddenly can’t exercise for any length of time like they used to, or experience severe difficulty breathing they need to be seen by a vet. Of course if you notice your fur baby struggling in any kind of way going to the bathroom, or notice blood you need to get advise from your vet.

Unexplained weight-loss No one knows their dogs eating habits better than you do… For me this one would be a difficult sign to take note of with Oscar. He honestly will only eat when and if he feels like it. He has been like this his entire life and has never had a regular feeding schedule. Zara on the other hand gulps her breakfast and dinner down within minutes. If your pups eating habits change, visit your vet!

Difficulty eating: If you notice your dog is suddenly struggling to eat or swallow his food, this could be a lump putting pressure on his oesophagus. Take your furry love to the vet immediately. Vomiting as well as a sudden increase in water intake should be a sign for concern too.

Bad breath: We all love puppy kisses but sometimes things can get a bit smelly. Only you know how your pooch usually smells. If suddenly things change, consult your vet.

The most important thing to remember is, take note of any changes in your dog, both physically and emotionally. You know your pooch best, if his behaviour changes in the slightest way, consult your vet. Early detection is key!

Thank you for reading.

Sources: csuanimalcancercenter.org ; iheartdogs.com ; caninecancer.com

13
Oct
2016

Puppy Proofing.

categories: Zara

When Zara waltzed into our home for the first time, we knew and she knew she was home. It only took her a few moments to cause absolute chaos and for us to realise just how un-puppy proof our home is! Oscar is such a chilled out man that we had become totally oblivious to the dangers that lurk in every room of our home. Zara was quite happy to point these out to us! Whenever she finds something ‘new’ she happily brings us her find with her head held high and her tail wagging, we of course jump up and kindly ask her to release her new find and replace it with one of her toys. I am so blessed to be based at home so I can keep an eye on her and distract her from causing damage to our furniture as well as herself. As of now-touch wood-she has not destroyed anything that has upset us. She tries her luck-obviously-but like the saying goes… a quiet puppy is a naughty puppy! Oscar on the other hand completely obliterated the garden sprinkler system-three times! I was living at home back then so you can imagine the parentals were not happy at all. Oscar also got ahold of a few pairs of shoes and some plants and trees he liked the taste of!

Zara loves opening our wardrobes and stealing slippers and shoes, but because I am around, and because she is always so proud of her new stolen items, she brings them to me before any damage has been done.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your home and your puppy safe:

Living room: My beautiful orchid nearly became Zara’s new toy. It was the perfect height for her to lick the leaves while pretending she wasn’t actually doing any harm… Needless to say it now has a new spot in the house, much higher up. It is a good idea to keep all tv and aircon remotes well out of reach as well as coffee table books, dvd’s, and any power cables tucked away. If you have a rug perhaps roll it up until the chewing puppy stage is over.

Kitchen: Zara is a little bit of a piggy when it comes to food so it is imperative that our pantry door is kept closed at all times! She will happily walk in sniff something out, and use whatever she can to get whatever it is she can smell. Keep all cleaning products in a high up cupboard just incase your puppy decides to nibble on a toxic bottle of bleach! Alternatively you can secure all your cupboard handles with elastic bands so she can’t open the door in the first place.

Bathroom: One of Zara’s proudest moments was when she managed to manoeuvre herself so she could get ahold of my razor. She brought this to me like it was the best thing she had ever found! While her whole being was extremely cute, I was completely horrified and gave her a full medical to check if she had any lacerations on her body or in her mouth-crisis avoided, all shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, tooth brushes and hair accessories are kept well out of reach! Our bath towels are folded up a little higher so she doesn’t take them for a tour through the garden. We thought these items were safe but it’s amazing how puppies get into things! We also keep all toilet lids down, just incase she decides to go swimming…

Bedroom: Our lovely scatter pillows now get placed in a pile in the middle of the bed. Zara loves jumping up and pulling whatever she can off the bed and throw it around like it’s a toy. Luckily she still cannot fully jump onto the bed just yet, we may have a problem once she is big enough-hahaha. My handbag has been a near victim to her shark teeth too! Dirty clothes need to be put in the laundry basket and the lid securely shut. Wardrobe doors and drawers need to be securely shut at all times too. Anything that is laying around is a potential chew toy so make sure absolutely everything is packed away or high enough so your puppy cannot reach it.

Office/Study: All lap top and cell phone charging cables have to be kept high up! Zara is quite partial to wanting to nibble on plug points and cables. I also have loads of papers and of course doggy accessories which Zara thinks should all be hers! I have had to rearrange everything so that nothing is eye level. It is a good idea to keep a busy room out of bounds for a while, or sort it out before your puppy arrives to avoid any disasters. Baby gates are great at keeping your puppy out of certain areas.

Outside: I am constantly worrying what she manages to find outside. I cannot always control her natural instincts and she needs to be a dog and be left alone to explore. She often brings in half eaten sticks and stones. And she is forever nibbling on leaves and trees. I have written a previous blog about making your garden pet safe (click here to read), however it is still a worry if I have misidentified a plant or tree. If your puppy loves to chew plants, it is a good idea to get expert advice on exactly what is pet safe and what should be removed and replaced. Keep all swimming pool chemicals and plant pesticides securely locked away! If your puppy loves to chew plants perhaps use organic pesticides or none at all. It is important to teach your puppy how to swim, but until she is old enough try and keep her away from the pool area or be vigilant and supervise outside play time. Your puppy needs to be in a safe environment.

A good way to see what is in reach and what looks like a good thing to chew is to get down to their level and look around. If you were a puppy what would you want to play with…?

After all the puppy proofing is done, enjoy having a puppy bombard your house, bring you presents and completely take over. They are small for such a short period of time, every time I blink Zara has grown just a little more! I am loving spending every single moment with her, watching her learn and explore. Puppies truly are a wonderful gift!

Thank you for reading

03
Oct
2016

Happy October

categories: Calendar

Happy October everyone! For some it’s summer excitement, others it’s fall excitement, which ever it is for you we hope you enjoy this October.

Download your October calendar here

Thank you for reading

27
Jul
2016

Bunny boredom busters

categories: Valentine and Duchess

I absolutely adore Valentine and Duchess and in the 9 months they have been apart of our family I have learnt so much about raising happy and healthy bunnies! Keeping your bunny happy and healthy is not as easy as you may think. They need a lot more attention than just a lettuce leaf and a carrot. Each day we are together they become cuter and cuter, they play with Oscar and completely trash their play room every night, yes I find this behaviour cute! I am constantly on the lookout for things to keep them entertained, a bored bunny is a very unhappy bunny! Bunnies get bored quickly and easily so it is very important you spend time with your bunny loving them and playing with them. Bunnies are also very intelligent and they need mental stimulation everyday. Luckily Valentine and Duchess have no idea whether I paid good money for a toy or if its something recycled, if they can toss it, climb through it or jump onto it they love it. Any empty box, plastic bottle lids and toilet roll holders go in Valentine and Duchess’ box so I can create fun and interesting toys for them to play with, which they love!

Get creative with your bunny's food. — Get creative with your bunny’s food.

Here are a few of their favourite boredom busters, we hope your bunnies love them too…

Toilet roll holder balls: These are a firm favourite with Valentine and Duchess! I like to fill them up with fresh herbs that I grow in my garden. These balls keep the two of them entertained for quite some time. They toss them and roll them around eventually pulling the rings apart so they can eat the herbs. They also toss the individual rings around too. It really is very cute to watch! And since everyone uses toilet paper, you can have a constant supply of these cute toys.

Directions

Simply cut the toilet roll into rings and intertwine them until it forms a sturdy ball shape. Then stuff the herbs inside and watch your bunny have fun.

Valentine and Duchess love these herb stuffed homemade balls.

Empty boxes: Valentine and Duchess absolutely love climbing through empty boxes. I usually cut a whole in the side for them to get through. I fill the box with shredded paper, brown paper or hay and it keeps them entertained for hours each night! Sometimes I stack more than one box on top of each other so they can knock them down and push them around. At our local pet shop we found a ‘seed box’. It is a box covered in edible seeds which they absolutely loved and have devoured, I will definitely be on the look out for another one of those!

Climbing through boxes filled with hay, shredded paper and brown paper is so much fun!

Food fun: I like to make breakfast and dinner interesting for Valentine and Duchess. Stuffing lettuce, carrots and celery into toilet roll holders, dried herb refill boxes work well too, or using a piece of string across a section of their play room which I peg bits of fresh veggies to. I like to have fun with their actual food too, making them bunny sushi or fruit and veggie skewers. The options are endless when it comes to having fun with their food.

Stuff toilet roll holders with your bunny's favourite fresh veggies and hay. — Stuff toilet roll holders with your bunny’s favourite fresh veggies and hay.

Food-line

Hang some string across an area either in your bunny’s cage, play area or a section of your house. Then use wooden pegs and peg all sorts of fresh fruit and veggies up: apple, pear, cucumber, green beans, celery, rocket, mint, basil etc… I love watching Valentine and Duchess have fun at meal times.

This is so easy to do for your bunnies and they will love it.

Bunny sushi

Who says sushi is only for humans 😉 Simply cut thick pieces of cucumber and take the soft middle part out leaving you with a round whole in the centre. Then cut some thin carrot sticks, celery sticks, some corn or whatever it is that your bunny loves and fill the centre. You can use a variety of ingredients for this which is why I love making this for them.

Herb board

The herb board is also a favourite for Valentine and Duchess because once they have found and eaten all the herbs they then pull out the strips cardboard and toss them around, keeping them entertained for hours! All you need is a cardboard base, a cardboard box that you can cut into strips and some toilet roll holders cut in half. Then you slide in their favourite herbs and watch them have fun.

Games: I love playing games with Valentine and Duchess and it’s always fun when they engage, of course if they are not in the mood I have no chance of playing-haha! We particularly love playing with Oscar’s IQ board game. I hide their dry food pellets or some homemade treats and using their noses they push the wooden pieces so they can get to their treats. We have great fun playing this.

Playing games with Valentine and Duchess is my absolute best!

We also enjoy playing with ping pong balls, rolling them to each other, Duchess tends to ‘chin’ them rather than send them back to me (chinning is said to be her way of telling me the ball belongs to her, it’s a sign of possession in the bunny world). We have a skittle set that we play with too, but sometimes the noise of the skittles crashing onto the floor gives them a little fright. Since our entire house is tiled I usually place a blanket down so the skittles don’t fall as hard. The last thing I want to do is scare my babies while we are supposed to be having fun!

They enjoy tossing small objects in the air too so I always keep plastic bottle lids and usually place them all in a box for them, in the mornings I wake up to find them hidden and thrown all over the place 🙂

Duchess loves hiding inside the seed box.

These are just a few ways in which I like to entertain Valentine and Duchess. I rotate their games each day and I never leave the same toys down constantly because they get bored with them. Instead I pick them up and will rotate them each couple of days. Even though it is the same toy, to them it’s new! But most of all have fun playing with your bunnies, a happy bunny is the best bunny!

Thank you for reading.