BFF's

Goofy, Stinky, Buddy, Snouts and Leo...also known as "Those Crazy Black Dogs" or "The Thundering Herd". I like to call them "The A**holes", which I find to be terribly appropriate.

Affordable Doggy Cashmere and more from Lands End

Lands End has always been my go-to source for practical and affordable dog jackets. However, they just raised the bar with amazing cashmere sweaters for under $80. It comes in four colors, is knit from the same Mongolian cashmere they knit people sweaters out of, and they have a size for every dog.

Their pet jackets are $15.50 and up. They are created with the same waterproof, windproof and/or insulating materials as their human counterparts, and are guaranteed for life. The Pet Squall, which I bought for $25, is what I use when it rains or snows. I own two of the human Squalls, so I know what a great jacket it is.

Happy Halloween!

My favorite new halter

I just got a new halter today for my dogs. I've tried the Gentle Leader, the Easy Walk Harness, and the Halti, and they all worked fairly well for Stinky. Goofy hates anything around his mouth, and his legs are just too damned short for the Easy Walk to work. Today's new halter works like a charm for both Goofy, with his stubby legs, as well as Stinky, who is constantly foraging for chicken bones on the sidewalk: the Sporn Halter. Not only is it half the price (only $14 on Amazon!) but definitely keeps my dogs from pulling my arm off. The true test is to see what will happen around a squirrel, rat or raccoon, and it's a pain to put on and take off, but so far it is super. It also helps that it has a lifetime money back guarantee!

What my dogs are eating today...

Peanut butter. But not just ANY peanut butter: it is Cream-Nut Peanut Butter. This is what Fairway supermarket proclaims to be the world's BEST peanut butter! I have to agree. This is made in small batches with nothing but Virginia Peanuts and sea salt. Although it isn't sweet like Skippy, or sticks to the roof of your mouth like Jif, it is incredibly addictive and you can't stop eating it. Neither can my dogs. I like to stuff it into old beef bones they've already hollowed out. It's available at Fairway for $4.99 per jar.

See Your Dog at Night

I walk my dogs in various parks at night, and sometimes they aren't so well lit. I've tried all sorts of lights on my dogs, including light up collars, weird blinking lights and more. Now, I'm sold on the Puplight, which has an unconditional one year guarantee. Considering the money I've spent on lights, it's totally worth it:

*Makes your dog visible 1/4 mile so traffic will see him and you can find him at night
*Allows you to see 10 - 20 feet ahead when you walk your dog at night
*Helps older dogs (10+) and dogs with poor vision see better

PupLight's patented design features include:

* Three ultra-bright LED's - light up to 200 feet and make dogs visible at night
* Rugged, water resistant construction - gives years of service to even the most active dogs. Warranted unconditionally 1 year
* Easy-on adjustable elastic band - assures a proper fit for any size dog.

Order your own directly from the manufacturer for $19.95 each.

Awesome Ear Cleaner

Goofy suffers from chronic yeast infections in his ears since he has basset hound floppy ears (only shorter). I've tried everything to clear them up, including vinegar solutions, stuff I bought from Petco, and very expensive bottles of Chlorhexadine. They are finally under control after a regimen of antibiotics and Chlorhexadine, thanks to my vet. Keeping it at bay requires a lot of vigilance and biweekly cleanings. I've now discovered a treatment that will hopefully keep both my dogs' ears in great shape from now on. Here is a vet testimonial for Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution. It works with enzymes that eat up all the ear wax and other crap that accumulates in your dog's ears. You can buy it for $12.95 with free shipping here. I'm sure if you get it through your vet it will be twice as much. Thank god for the internet!

Doggy Mini-Me's!

My new mini-me's of Goofy and Stinky are fantastic. People in Central Park thought I was carrying two puppies, that's how good they look! You too can order your own furry wool pooch for $125 from Amelia Santiago.

Mutt Mitts

Ah, the daily chore of picking up poop leads to tons of plastic bags being hoarded like gold. With two dogs that poop multiple times daily, I like to find the cheapest degradable bags possible. Say hello to Mutt Mitts in the convenient bulk 900 count box for $72.50! These are the same mitts you see at a lot of the city parks:

• Better protection than a bag
• Strong black & white degradable plastic
• Large capacity gusseted pouch
• Puncture resistant
• Plastic 2.5 mil thick at point of contact
• Air-tight containment
• No exposed contaminated surfaces after use
• Can be used as a portable water bowl
• Measures 9" x 13"
• Made in the U.S.A.

What my dogs are eating today...

Wheatgrass! Stinky loves it, Goofy is impartial. I don't understand why anyone would eat this stuff since it tastes awful, but it's good for people too. I bought mine at the Greenmarket in Union Square, but I also bought an extra for my mom's new kitty at Petco. $5 for grassy goodness.

You can also grow your own. Here is some info from the grow-your-own wheatgrass website:
Wheatgrass is full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The juice is reported to have many health benefits due to the high concentration of chlorophyll, Vitamins B-12, B-6, K & C, and beta-carotene. Cats and dogs instinctively chew & eat grass to obtain vitamins, minerals and live enzymes provided by fresh, raw, whole foods. Unlike their undomesticated counterparts/relatives, pets typically do not have access to a ready supply of healthy greens such as Pet Grass. If your pets are indoor- only pets, Pet Grass gives them these vital nutrients they would otherwise miss, and may also prevent them from eating your houseplants.Dogs and cats that go outdoors will eat grass, but it has little or if any nutritional value. Your yard may also have been treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which could be harmful to your pets. Offering them Pet Grass is a safer, healthy alternative. Pet Grass may improve bad breath due to the high chlorophyll content found in wheatgrass. Pet Grass aids in digestion and hairball control.

Mini-Me's Part 2

So here are the mini-me's of my dogs! I can't wait to get them!

The Perfect City Leash

I used to order custom made 3 foot leashes for my pooches because short leashes are hard to find. It is much easier to control a dog on a short leash, and it is necessary for city walking. The Knot-a-Long by Ruffwear is a 30" leash with reflective trim, E-Z clip leash attachment for quick collar clipping, and at $14.95, won't break the budget.

New Collars...again.

Well, Goofy gleefully rolled in human poop last night, so new collars are once again on the "to do" list. Here's Goof's new collar from 3 Dirty Dawgz, and Stinky is getting a matching pink one.

Gotta love those purple booties!

So, here is my very dignified dog wearing his lovely, masculine, purple rain booties. I wrote about Pawz rubber booties before, and they really do work (no muddy paws)! But they look really funny on my dog.

World's Most Ridiculous Dog Toy

This is an anatomically correct love doll for dogs (there is a hole in the back end). No price on it yet, but you can get all the details at Feel Addicted. The toy's motto is "Satisfied Dog."

To get pee out, use Enzap!

Every dog will have an accident once in awhile. You know the kind of accident I'm talking about. However, once in awhile you will have an unwelcome wet surprise on your carpet, bed or bath rug. When that happens, it is really hard to wash out the stench especially when you use a high efficiency washing machine. I've used a lot of different products, but nothing has worked like Enzap. You get four giant bottles for $30. From their website:

Why buy "high priced" specialized products to clean organic spills and odor problems caused by your family pet? Enzap is truly an all purpose cleaner with a fresh clean fragrance. Use Kirby's Enzap All Purpose Odor Controller and Waste Degrader when you need to clean and refreshen places where pet odors and accidents have occurred. The active bacterial cultures in Kirby's Enzap are blended with powerful odor controllers that leave a fresh clean scent. It is designed to work on a wide variety of organic odor causing substances. Clean away the odor build up and effects of urine, feces, vomit, skin tissue, body oils, fats, and blood that are deposited where they are not wanted. (Like your best chairs, tables, car seats, carpets, clothing, rugs, towels, or the floors and furnishings in your pets eating and sleeping areas.)
SAFE - NON TOXIC - Certified Salmonella-Free. Fresh Clean Fragrance.

The Dogo Argentinos vs. The Bassadors!

White dogs vs. black dogs? Big dogs vs. runty dogs? Dogos vs. Bassadors? It's always a good time on the Great Hill in Central Park!

Sale Alert!

I get sample sale alerts, so I guess this is the doggy version! Here is some great stuff on sale right now!


Planet Dog Squeaky Buddy The squeak in this plush toy is to-drool-for. Double-bellow (that means it squeaks as the air is going in AND coming out), loud and oh, so satisfying. Consider it "dog-ear approved."Large 12" squeaky toy for only $6.95!

Canz Dog Treats (Buy One Get One Free!)These are some of the favorite treats I like to give to my dogs. These are 2 bags for only $5.95! This jerky treat is divided into 1x3/4 inch bites and contain in addition to the meat, chicory root (a highly digestible, binding agent), lecithin (a natural preservative which aids in healthy coat production), sea salt (a moisture stabilizer), mixed tocopherols and garlic (natural preservatives).

The Furminator! The medium size is on sale for $31.99 with free shipping!The patented FURminator Medium deShedding Tool quickly and easily removes (it doesn't cut) the loose, dead undercoat hair that is the underlying source of shedding - a pet owners #1 complaint - and the allergies and cleanliness problems associated with it. The tools unique stainless steel edge grabs loose undercoat hair and removes it without damaging the pets topcoat. Reduces shedding up to 90%. Guaranteed to reduce shedding better than any brush, comb or rake . Works great on all shedding breeds of dogs and cats, (both long and short-haired). Brings out the pet's natural oils, leaving a shiny and healthy topcoat. Features a comfortable, ergonomic grip handle

8:30 Alarm Clock

Who needs an alarm, when the black dogs of Hill start to raise hell at 8:30 every morning on the dot!

Cats can be leash trained!

This man has been walking his cat in Central Park twice a day for the past 10 years. The cat always makes my dogs a little nervous, and I don't blame them because it's unnatural! Also, I don't understand how a cat that gets walked can be so fat...Anyway, hope you find this interesting.

What my dogs are eating today...

What do I feed my dogs on a daily basis? Raw chicken backs, at 49 cents a pound from the local supermarket. Usually I feed them 2-3 a day, depending on how much exercise they've had, and how much crap they've eaten off the street. I used to feed my dogs very expensive premium gourmet kibble, and no matter what brand I tried they would always have big sloppy poops. Gross, I know. Now that they are on a raw diet, the poops are small, solid and don't smell. My dogs also have nice white teeth from gnawing on bones. Raw bones are digestible and don't cause splintering problems. Dogs also don't have issues with eating raw chicken--if they can happily eat poop, they can eat raw. Just so you know, my dogs also eat cooked chicken bones off the street everyday. We live in Harlem and when people eat fried chicken they throw the bones on the sidewalk. When they first did it I would freak out and grab it from their mouths. Now I don't care anymore. After the first 25 times or so, I stopped worrying.

What my dogs are eating today...

You too can feed your dogs Beef-sicles as a Labor Day treat! A small rack of beef ribs are $1.49 a pound at my local supermarket. I cut them into individual ribs and stick them in my freezer for my dogs to gnaw on when they are bored. They will chew on the bones for days if I let them.

Rube Goldberg Dog Feeding Machine

This was so ingenious I had to post it...the maker of this machine has WAY too much time on his hands!

What my dogs are eating today...

Salmon! I was feeding this to the dogs on the Great Hill in Central Park this morning, and had a request to put this online. Okay, this treat has a completely incomprehensible name, "Lakse Kronch," and is made in Denmark. However, it containts 85% fresh wild salmon, and 15% wild salmon meal. It smells fishy, which the dogs love, and it isn't greasy, which I love. Salmon is naturally rich in omega -3 and -6 fatty acids, which is great for a shiny coat and healthy skin. I get mine from The New York Dog Shop on 73rd and Columbus for $4.95 per 6 ounce bag. My dogs love it, and I'm sure yours will too as well!

Adopt a dog!

Goofy and Stinky are both rescue dogs. You never see yellow or brown bassadors available for adoption because black dogs are the least adopted dogs. Pet stores usually buy from puppy mills, and there are many dogs out there that deserve a loving home in shelters. Here is a prime example. I found this yellow bassador on YouTube, who is in a high kill shelter in North Carolina. I hope he finds a good home.

Goofy and his weenie...

Okay, tasteless, but funny nonetheless!

Harlem Vets!

I ran into the two new neighborhood vets tonight while walking Goofy and Stinky. Uptown Vets will be opening on September 17th. They are located at 295 W 112th St., off the corner of Frederick Douglass. It's about time that we had a decent vet office north of 96th St. You can call them at 212-222-1212 after September 4th.

What my dogs are eating today...

Raw cow hooves! Moo! I buy them cut up from the local supermarket for $1.49 a pound. It sounds gross, but my dogs will chew on it for hours. They find it a tasty treat, even though there is no nutritional value in it. I've seen dried hooves in the pet stores, but I'd rather feed them fresh since it's available. I've heard that the dried version smells terrible once the dogs start to eat it.

What my dogs are eating today...

Dried crispin apples from Red Jacket Orchards are incredibly tasty, chewy, moist, sweet and great for both dogs and people. More importantly, they have no sulfites. That's right. No funky tasty preservatives, just nothing but pure dried apples. They are high in fiber, $3.50 for a 6 oz. container and available at the Greenmarket. You can also call them at (800) 828-9410 or check out their website. I bought them originally for myself, until I realized that my dogs love them as much as their lamb treats. Go figure.

Doggy Mini-Me's

I placed an order to create little felted wool likenesses of my dog. As weird as it sounds, I think this is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Get a handcrafted wool copy of your dog from Amelia Makes Art for less than $80! You can be sure that when I get my mini-pooches you will see them here!

What my dogs are eating today...

Well, I've written about my dogs eating chicken feet. But during the summertime, they also get super tasty Sheep's Milk Yogurt from Valley Shepherd Creamery. I like it with honey and Splenda to cut the sheepiness of it all, but my dogs like it plain. It is super rich, thick and an all around great plain yogurt. I buy it from the Greenmarket (8 containers for $10).

Little Stinky gets picked on...again

Maybe it's because Stinky is the only girl in the gang of black dogs, but she is always the one getting picked on. It's like tag, and she's always it.

Pawz Dog Boots

It's another rainy day in NYC and it took me 10 minutes to get all the rain gear onto my dogs. My new favorite item: Pawz Dog Boots

They are rubber, stretchy, reusable, and my dogs don't balk when it comes to walking. I bought them some of the most expensive dog shoes on the market and they wouldn't walk! These are great, and keep my dog's feet from getting muddy.

The new collars...

So, my wonderful Goofy rolled in human poop for the umpteenth time this summer and ruined yet another collar. People always say, "You can always wash it." And I'm thinking, "Are you f*cking kidding? You want that in your washing machine?" So, once again, it's time to buy new collars for the dogs. Here is my next acquisition from 3 Dirty Dawgz:

Goofy, Stinky & Diego

Diego the Dogo Argentino is a 6 month old puppy, and one of Stinky's new favorite playmates. If you notice on the video, one of Stinky's favorite ways of annoying Goofy is playing tug of war with his leash.

Just another Saturday morning on the Hill...

Chauncy and Soleil (both boy dogs!)


Goofy and Stinky

The Hooligans

We have a group of black dogs (including mine) that love to play together on the Great Hill in Central Park. I like to call them the Hooligans, because that is how they act. They wrestle, chase, play and cause general havoc among the innocent human bystanders on a daily basis. So, when you get a very sweet kid who bakes peanut butter dog treats to sell for a nickel a piece, who comes begging for free samples? You guessed it. The black dogs of the Hill.

Stinky and Rosie

What happens when you have two stubborn dogs walking down Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem with a rubber pull toy? Press play to find out!

Doggie Bar Soap / Shampoo

My dogs get bathed VERY often, especially because one is a poop roller. The other one gets all slimy from being slobbered on by the dogs she plays with on a daily basis. When the flies start to collect around my pooches, I know it's time for a bath. When I dump them in my tub, I use this great dog bar soap that is much better than any liquid shampoo I've tried. It's all natural, only $5.50 a bar, lasts a long time, rinses clean, smells nice and doesn't dry out their skin or fur:

Pennyroyal Pet Soap contains essential oil of pennyroyal, a member of the mint family, which naturally repels fleas and ticks. The combination of pennyroyal and lavender oils is very soothing. Humans can use it whether bathing with their pet or all alone. As with all of our soaps, only food grade ingredients are used. An additional bonus is the super fatting with jojoba oil, great for human and pet hair.

Contains

• saponified olive, soy & palm kernel oils
• glycerin
• jojoba oil
• lavender essential oil
• pennyroyal essential oil
• nothing else

What are my dogs eating today...

I've been feeding my dogs raw chicken feet as a snack. You heard me. Toes and all. I'm sure you're thinking, "Why on earth would you feed your dog something so disgusting?" Well, for starters, my dogs love 'em. They are crunchy and chewy all at the same time. Chicken feet are high in protein, calcium and contain anti-inflammatory nutrients. I got the idea from a website that was selling them dried as a doggy snack for $0.50 a piece. That's crazy, when I can get them raw for a $1.49 a pound at the local supermarket. Yes, my supermarket sells chicken feet! *crunch crunch crunch!*

Stinky vs. Snouts

Awesome Dog Beds for Large Dogs

So, I've been looking for months for dog beds that aren't completely overpriced and yet are totally functional for larger dogs. I've decided to purchase two Mammoth Dog Beds. Here's the description from the website:


Mammoth original is a superior quality dog bed and by far the most popular of all large beds. A dog's best friend, a security blanket. Mammoth beds are durable and mold to your dog's body. Composed of a removable inner pillow (which is a bed in itself) and a cozy ring for support. This large dog bed is sure to be enjoyed by the biggest and heaviest of breeds. Mammoth can fit into any part of your decor.


Throw the covers in the wash.Made from 100% all new materials, the inner pillow has a removable cover and the outer ring too. Mammoth uses a lasting Velcro system for easy removal. The entire bed is completely washable. The high memory upholstery fiber fill bounces back after every use and is non-balling. This is no ordinary fill, engineered only through Mammoth.So hugh, the shepherd floats on the side.

Mammoth stands one foot off the ground. Now that's a dog bed! Look at the shepherd to the right. He is using the bolster for support and pillow for comfort. He is laying around the bolster side and the pillow has molded to his body giving him an ultimate good night's sleep. Good luck at breakfast.

Cool Preppy Dog Collars

My pooches have the rep for being the preppiest dogs on the Great Hill in Central Park. My new favorite source for preppy dog collars is 3 Dirty Dawgz. The collars/leashes are handmade in Long Island, and they will do 3' leashes upon request. 3 foot leashes are a MUST for any urban dog! The collars and leashes are half the price of any boutique dog shop in Manhattan and much nicer. Here are what my dogs are currently wearing:

What is a Bassador?

Bassadors are bizarre looking mutts bred from Basset Hounds and Labrador Retrievers. I have two. One is a Hurricane Katrina rescue named Goofy, and the other is a little hedonist from Chapel Hill named Stinky. Personality-wise, Goofy is all lab, and Stinky is all Basset. It's like having apartment-sized labs, which is ideal for NYC. The strange thing is that you can only find them in the South, usually through rescues. They breed them in the South as hunting dogs since ideally they would have soft retriever mouths and the ability to track like scent hounds. If you have the opportunity to rescue a Bassador, please do so!