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NewsHound 064
December 6, 2007 |
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| Dear urbanhounders,
Another seven dog years have flown by, and once again it's time for Urbanhound's Annual Gift Guide.
Just in time for your Holiday shopping, this year's Guide is packed with practical and luxurious, clever and quirky, hip and happy gifts for hounds and their humans.
Each year, as we prepare this Guide, we find more and more amazing stuff out there. There's been such an explosion of hound-related paraphernalia, it's hard to know where to begin. So, this year, we've eschewed the standard offerings of toys and beds, leashes and collars, in favor of items you're less likely to find on any (and every) other gift guide. Even so, we had a hard time winnowing the list to a manageable size.
In fact, we have so many great gift suggestions, there's no room for our usual events calendar. So enjoy our Gift Guide below, and be sure to visit us online to keep up with local events this holiday season.
Happy gifting, and best holiday wishes to you and your hounds,
Nadia Zonis,
Editor, urbanhound New York
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» Prefer shopping in-person rather than online? Don't miss urbanhound's Best Hound Shops, a list of our absolute favorite spots to shop in town.
» Taking off with your hound for the holidays? Read our indispensable Air Travel Guide before you go.
» You may know about the evils of poinsettias and chocolate Santas, but what about macadamia nuts and Christmas tree water? Our in-house vet, Dr. Betsy Brevitz gives the complete rundown on holiday health hazards for dogs.
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| - Sponsor - |
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| urbanhound's 3rd Annual Gift Guide |
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Fine Whine
Not that anyone needs an excuse to drink wine, but now you can sip for a worthy cause, thanks to the Dog Lovers Wine Club. Monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly (as you please), members receive California wines with rescue pups gracing the label. Up to ten percent of proceeds benefit the shelter of your choice from their list of Bark Partners. You can also order wine emblazoned with a photo or digital illustration of any hound you choose. (Wine club, $48 - $72 per shipment; custom-label wine, $62 - $102 per bottle, $382 - $430 per case.)
Travels with Charly
For hounds on the go, the style-savvy folks at Design Within Reach offer the Charlybox, an ingenious item that combines food and water bowls with a water canteen in one rugged, easy-to-carry clamshell case ($60).
Howlingly Funny
The latest book title from our friends over at The Bark is Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit ($25). Filled with essays, stories and satire--written by the likes of Roy Blount Jr., Al Franken, Dave Barry and Margaret Cho--Howl is smart, heartwarming and truly hilarious. And for your hound's bedside book stack, we suggest The Dangerous Book for Dogs ($15.95), by Rex & Sparky, which offers pointers on shoe chewing, yard escape and other consummately canine pursuits.
Hava Nagila. Have Two, They're Small
For those concerned with their dog's religious upbringing, there's no better Hanukah gift than How to Raise a Jewish Dog ($12.99) by Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman. Add a doggie yamulke in festive blue-and-white ($10) for good measure.
Take Care
The ASPCA's compact Pet First Aid Kit ($49.95) contains 126 items, from bandages and disinfectants to an emergency blanket and extra leash, making it indispensable for the car, boat or home. Plus, by purchasing one, you'll be supporting the tireless efforts of this 140-year-old organization. We think it makes an especially great gift when paired with urbanhound's own Hound Health Handbook, brimming with vital information and sage advice from our in-house vet Dr. Betsy Brevitz ($27.95).
Happy Howlidays
Thanks to the occasional garbage-can raid, shoe chew or rug puddle, some dogs end up on the wrong side of Santa's Naughty/Nice equation. No matter. Bullyware's Evil Elf Society tee ($38) absolves any dog that wears it, magically. Accessorize with a Fleas Navidog or Santa Paws collar ($28), and those lumps of coal will surely turn to biscuits overnight.
A (Heart)Felt Tribute
We love these oddly endearing needle felted, three-dimensional custom dog "portraits". Sculpted from Icelandic and Merino wool, they capture every jowly muzzle and half-cocked ear perfectly. For painted or photographic portraits in a range of styles, check out urbanhound's super Guide to Pet Portraitists. If your pup refuses to sit still long enough for a portrait, Video Vampires will create a dog.umentary from your home videos and snapshots or - if you happen to live in New York - they'll even film on location (price varies).
Mmmm…Snacks
While visions of sugar plums may dance in your head, your hound is dreaming up goodies of a different sort. Treat 'em right with Sushi Snacks. They look exactly like your favorite raw-fish nibbles (right down to the dog-friendly "wasabi"), but these dog yummies are crafted from rice, chicken broth and other high-quality ingredients (17 pieces for $19). Or, if variety is what your hound craves, sign up for the Treat of the Month Club from Chicago's Tails By the Lake ($30 per month).
Winter Wonders
Neither rain nor snow nor dark of night will keep an urban hound from his appointed rounds. Ensure safety and style with this fleece-lined, waterproof jacket from Tanner & Dash ($44), smartly accented with reflective stripes. And on the way back in, get the mud and muck off those paws with the Paw Plunger ($29.99), a tool so simple and brilliant you'll wonder why no one thought of it before.
A Tisket, a Tasket
Gift baskets aren't just for people. Treat some lucky pup to a pampering with a Spa Pack featuring Cain & Able's lavender-scented shampoo, Between-Baths Spritz and shea butter Paw Rub ($32). Or choose one of the fun-packed options from Le Bone Appetit. Their Pet Resolutions basket (84.95) features low-fat snacks, a tug toy (for flossing), a treat ball (so they burn calories to earn calories) and a cancer-fundraising collar. They also have Hannukah ($85.95) and Christmas ($139.95) baskets, or you can assemble your own with their range of great stuff.
Every Dog Has Its Day
Seems there's no end to the dog-themed calendars out there this season A couple of our favorites: The Unexpected Pit Bull ($17.99), which raises funds for pitty advocacy groups nationwide; the Liberty Tails calendar ($14.99), featuring Liberty Humane Society adoptees gorgeously photographed by Shaina Fishman.
Wired for Hound
Once, supporting your favorite rescue or advocacy organization meant buying yet another logo-emblazoned coffee mug or t-shirt. Today, you can support the Humane Society of the United States every time you send an instant message. Did we mention it's free? We can think of no better reason to IM your holiday greetings this year. And, for those who prefer cell phone chatter, the HSUS has partnered with Working Assets to offer a wireless plan that makes every call your teenager makes on her new cell phone a good call for the animals.
Books to Dog-Ear
The only thing urbanhounders like more than talking about dogs is reading about them. Just in time for our winter-reading pleasure, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author and columnist Anna Quindlen has given us Good Dog. Stay. ($8.97), a paean to her beloved black Lab Beau. Street Dogs ($22.95), photographer Traer Scott's follow-up to last year's stunning Shelter Dogs ($19.95), captures the sweetness and soul of strays around the world. Both are available through the ASPCA's online store. For more great dog books, see our most recent literary edition of NewsHound.
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Copyright (c) 2006 urbanhound, LLC.
All rights reserved.
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