The study says dog ownership can decrease the chances of children being obese by as much as 50 per cent.

They are called man's best friend, but they could also be the best weapon in the fight against childhood obesity. A new study indicates dog ownership may also be the antidote to junk food, computer games and television which many say causes childhood obesity. 

Jo Salmon from Deakin University in Victoria was the lead researcher on the project which looked at obesity levels among kids with and without dogs.

"We found that young children who are aged around five to six years of age are 50 per cent less likely to be overweight or obese if they own a dog, compared to those who don't own a dog," Dr Salmon said.

The study also found there were health benefits for older children with dogs.

For 10 to 12-year-olds, 30 per cent who did not have a dog suffered weight problems compared to 27 per cent of their peers who have a pet.

Dr Salmon says the health benefits come even if the children do not walk the dog regularly.

"We looked at whether or not the frequency of dog walking might explain this association of perhaps all children who own a dog or walking more frequently with their dog," he said.

"But this didn't explain it, so the way we interpret our data is we think maybe they are outside playing with the dog and just spending more energy generally and playing with the dog and in fact it's not through dog walking, but just through playing." Dr Salmon says the results span the socio-economic divide.

"When we adjusted … the family's economic status and the neighbourhood's level of economic status, we found that this association between dog ownership and children's weight status persisted," he said. And dog owners agree children and canines are a good mix.

John is the owner of Sam, a black Labrador and he also has children.

"Walking a dog is one thing, that's very sort of perambulatory," he said. "But if you're a kid and a dog, you chase balls, you play soccer with them, you rumble with them, wrestle them on the carpet even if you're watching TV," he said. "So it's activity and it's also a mind thing as well."

by Brigitt Hauck
April 22, 2010

Pets can help you green the earth too. Make your own pet toys and select eco-friendly products to clean up after them, for instance. Follow these tips to help pets live a healthier, happier life and help the environment at the same time.

1. Clean it up

Animal waste is bad for the environment and may contain bacteria that can contaminate water supply, said Kelsie Dolezal, a certified veterinary technician at The Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine. Always clean up your pup’s waste. Flushing a dog’s waste down the toilet is the best option, but biodegradable or compostable bags can be used when flushing isn’t an option. Cat waste can be difficult to dispose of if cats have toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite, which can pose a health threat to humans, she said. Put those pesky, old newspaper sleeves to use as gloves when cleaning up after your kitty and seal their litter in bags too.

2. Recycle and reuse

If your pet has a lot of toys, think twice before buying a new one. “Put half of them away and then switch them out and all of the sudden your pet has a new toy again,” Dolezal said. Many household items can be easily transformed into fun toys that mirror those sold in stores. For pups, make a tug of war toy by stretching an old sock over a tennis ball and tie two knots, one on each end. For kittens, turn an old box upside down, cut holes in the top and put food inside. Another creative trick she recommends is to put food in an empty plastic bottle. Your pet will knock the bottle around to get the treat.

Pet bedding can also be re-stuffed with old pillows and blankets laying around the house. Even making the choice to donate old leashes, collars, bedding and towels to a shelter instead of throwing them out is a step towards being greener.

3. Chow time

“It’s the same way as it is with us—you are what you eat,” Dolezal said. Feed your pets natural, organic foods that are minimally processed and exclude harsh ingredients like pesticides, antibiotics and artificial ingredients and preservatives. Begin paying attention to the labels on pet food, said Brenda Lang, owner of Green Dog Inc, an eco-friendly canine care service. “More than just being preventative against the negative effects of non-environmentally-friendly products, the benefits of a diet with high-quality, organic ingredients are seen in the long run, with fewer trips to the veterinarian and a better quality of life,” she said.

“Many local and organic foods are readily available, and it’s not difficult to make your own food,” she said. But, always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet.

4. Be conscious of cleaning products

Home care products can be toxic to pets. If a pet ingests most commercial cleaners, lawn care chemicals or pest control pesticides, it could be fatal, Lang said. For indoor and outdoor maintenance, consider using non-toxic products which are also pet-friendly. In the winter, there are eco-friendly de-icers are gentler on pups paws, she said. Even environmentally conscious shampoos and flea control products are available for pets. Many pet-safe and non-toxic products sold in stores can easily be made for less than the cost of commercial cleaners, so being green won’t break the bank. 

When Tobi and Simone Skovron first came up with the concept for The Pet Loo, it was an idea born from pure - a solution to a very common problem that pet owners all around the world were facing.

As cities grow larger and housing becomes more expensive, not everyone has the luxury of a backyard. And it is for this reason that The Pet Loo wasn’t just a solution that suited Tobi and Simone, but a solution for all pet owners across the globe.

One year ago we joined forces with Oak Thrift Corporation so that The Pet Loo could be purchased in the UK – a country with one of the highest numbers of per ownership.

There are 27 million pets in the UK and 43% of households contain at least one furry, feathery or scaly family friend, making pets well and truly part of the UK’s landscape.

* 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city.

* 39% of London pet owners feel the need for companionship despite having over 7.5 million neighbours across the city

* Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop[1]

The Pet Loo isn’t just for people living with pets in apartments either. Dogs, and owners, who have backyards, may not be so keen on venturing outside in the cold winter months, when they could both stay cozy and warm with a Pet Loo inside the house. Boat owners can stay out longer on the water with Fido having easy access to his own Loo. And elderly pet owners moving to retirement villages are able to keep their pets with them, no longer having to surrender them to the pound.

With an estimated 100,000 pets abandoned every year in the UK, The Pet Loo is the perfect solution to a large majority of abandonment causes.

Pets are a wonderful companion and give us years of joy. Why not ensure their longevity in your family, and make pet toileting much easier for you both, by picking up a Pet Loo today?

Visit www.oakthrift.com

Pup-Pee Solutions are committed to developing innovative pet waste management products and the introduction of their latest development; the Pee-Pod is a true example of that.

Click here to see it in action

Pee-Pods have been developed to kill harmful airborne bacteria contained in pet waste. The innovative Pee-Pod is a biodegradable container that fits neatly inside the catchment jug of your Pet Loo, on contact the Wee Sponge (powder) acts like a magnet rapidly absorbing the liquid waste turning it into a solidified gel.

The result significantly reduces bacteria and airborne odours, further increasing the performance of your Pets Loo. A TRUE REVOLUTION!!!!!

Pee-Pods have been scientifically formulated using patented technology to blend nature and science – creating a product that uses natural materials to give supernatural results.

With the Wee Sponge in the Pee-Pod, The Pet Loo’s catchment jug is able to hold at least 100 times its weight in liquid and binds odours in a way like no other.

The Pee-Pod and the Wee Sponge are completely safe to humans and pets, and have been engineered using biodegradable materials, further reducing the carbon footprint of pet waste.

With a lifespan of up to 3 days per Pee-Pod, once full simply replace with a fresh one!

One Size fits all sized Pet Loo*

Follow Pup-Pee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo

Official Press Release: Click Here

*Version 3 

One Of Pet Loo's Favourite Retailers   

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Andrew Kim first fell in love with dogs when his parents decided to bring two Rottweiler puppies, KoKo and Magic, into their family at an early age. Growing up with his dogs, he completely cherished his special relationship with his four-legged childhood companions. This early exposure left an indelible emotional impression, attachment and love for dogs.

After high school, Andrew moved out of Los Angeles to Northern California to attend University of California Berkeley. While living away in the Bay Area after graduation, both his dogs passed away. He was deeply saddened and felt an emotional void in his life. There was an undeniable feeling of emptiness when he came home to visit and didn't see the family dogs come to greet him. Everyone in the family was clearly affected by the loss.

After college, Andrew continued to stay in the Bay Area building a successful career at a hedge fund. Although he was in a lucrative profession, Andrew realized in his heart that he should be doing more with his time. He found contributing his time to help others more rewarding than his current career path and wanted to make a positive impact in the community. Andrew's new path would soon be revealed to him unknowingly.

Hearing through a friend that there was a couple who couldn't keep their dog and was giving the puppy away, he decided that he would adopt the puppy and give the Shi-Tzu Terrier mix a new home. That is when his new love, Maya Pyaari, came into his life and planted the seeds for HEALTHY SPOT.

During the March 2007 Massive Pet Food Recall, Andrew grew scared about the dangers of commercial pet foods and began researching pet food and nutrition. He was appalled by the detriments and nutritional deficiencies of the major pet foods available on the market. He was determined to seek out the best products and approaches to feed his newfound puppy. This passion led to the start of his new venture, HEALTHY SPOT.

Talking to his friends with dogs, he quickly realized that many people did not know what was available to properly provide nutritional care for their furry loved ones. Many owners honestly felt overwhelmed in trying to evaluate what ingredients or formulas were best. Andrew realized there was a strong need for a retailer to be the partner of the dog owner in pre-selecting the best products for their dog. Andrew believed that by providing education and access to the best available nutritional products, he could positively impact the lifestyle of the dog and their owner. A healthy dog is a happy dog and a happy dog makes a happy owner. Andrew found his calling with his vision of HEALTHY SPOT and moved to Los Angeles to begin building this new home of the highest quality products.

Andrew called Mark about his relocation to the area and his vision of HEALTHY SPOT. During this time Mark had also come to similar conclusions about his life. After several years in advertising, he left his career in search of a venture that he could be more passionate about. During the conversation, Mark completely understood Andrew's passion and vision and was flushed with memories of Biscuit. He never understood why his friend was stricken with such a horrible disease when he had always sought proper veterinary care and fed him premium dog food. Mark's passion for canines and love for his life long friend, Biscuit, had not left him to that day and he was quickly on board with Andrew's vision of HEALTHY SPOT.

They knew this was more than mere coincidence. Sharing in the same passion, Andrew and Mark continued to evolve and hone their vision of HEALTHY SPOT together. They cemented their commitment to build a friendly, knowledgeable and caring 'SPOT' to fulfill the needs and passions of dog owners today. HEALTHY SPOT is their shared dream of giving back to the memory of their dogs for their years of loving companionship and shared goal of impacting the world by elevating the standard of care and lifestyle of our four-legged family members.

HEALTHY SPOT, for your dogs mind, body and bowl.

www.healthyspotonline.com

The Call of the Red Carpet

Pet Loo at the Golden Globes 

Buddha Bark is the premiere wellness, pampering and gifting lounge for celebrities, media, tastemakers and their dogs to primp and prepare for the Golden Globe Awards held this year on January 15th and 16th.  

The Buddha Bark event series is the first to bring together top experts and brands from both the health and fitness world and the canine wellness community to honor wellness and the spirit of compassion. The zen garden oasis environment was fun and relaxing while supporting an important cause - to stop puppy mills and encourage animal rescue.

The Los Angeles Times reports; “The fashion community in Los Angeles has tripled, maybe even quadrupled, now that the Golden Globes are upon us. The world's finest jewel-encrusted clutches and cuff links, slinky gowns and tuxedo shirts are being messengered around the city for celebrities to consider.

And G-D forbid the purse dogs be left out. At Buddha Bark, a lounge being held in the garden setting of hairstylist Chaz Dean's studio, celebs and their furry friends will be treated to a doggie fashion show, pet psychics and canine massages.”[1] 

But, Buddha Bark is not just about fashion, glitz and glam. They are about extending the circle of compassion by educating and promoting a lifestyle of harmony and wellness between humans and their canine companions.[2]

The Pet Loo was featured throughout the lounge for gifting, sampling, and photo opportunities.

Click Here to See our Photos:

• Jason Biggs and his wife with Sim & Tobi from Pet Loo
• Hal Sparks with Sim & Tobi
• Phoebe Price and Henry
• Uncle Phill (James Avery) with Amber Kane
• Jason White - From Avatar
• Eric Roberts was super impressed
• Camille Gauty from Las Vegas and Prison Break
• David Fisher from NCIS
• Hofit Golan - Israeli superstar
• Yuval David being smothered by Subii
• Sally Richards - from I am Legend (Co-Star with Will Smith)

And our very own Celebrity Sim Skovron on the Red Carpet

[1] http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2010/01/fashion-diary-quarterbacking-the-red-carpet.html#more

[2] http://www.buddhabark.com/content/golden-globe-celebrity-style-lounge

A look into Best Friends Animal Society. 

Best Friends is guided by a simple: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.  In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats were being killed in shelters every year.  Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number.

Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs.  Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year.  There has been much progress, but there is still much more to do.  

One of Best Friends new campaigns is Puppies Aren't Products.  Exposing the connection between puppy mills and pet stores, and encouraging adoption.

Right now, millions of adult dogs are suffering on the "production line" in America's puppy mills.  Their sole purpose is to breed and make money for their owners.  They live in tiny, wire-bottomed cages, in squalid conditions, with little human contact and often no veterinary care.  It is no life for man's best friend. 

Meanwhile, roughly 11,000 animals are euthanized in America's shelters every day.  There's something wrong with this picture. The goal of Best Friends' Puppies Aren't Products campaign is to create a world of No More Homeless Pets by fighting against puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.

Our campaign team saves lives by holding peaceful demonstrations at pet stores that sell puppies from mills, educating consumers about the inhumane conditions in puppy mills, encouraging people to adopt rather than buy pets, and advocating for better legislation to combat puppy mills. 

Please join us in the working toward a day when all of America's pets have what they deserve: good care, safety and love from a family of their own. [1]

[1] http://www.buddhabark.com/content/best-friends-animal-society-charity-partner

Launched in 2006 after 3 years of research & development by Australian entrepreneur of the year, Tobi Skovron, and former Vet nurse & animal assisted therapist Simone Skovron, Pup-Pee Solutions is an Australian business success story that has expanded worldwide. 

With offices in Melbourne Australia, Los Angeles California & New York City The Pet Loo is Pup-Pee’s flagship brand. The Pet Loo replicates a backyard and is a safe and hygienic device that allows dogs & cats to do their business in a mess free, sanitary manner. It is suitable for apartment dwellers, the elderly, office dogs, boat owners, plush garden owners, cold climates and grassless backyards.  

Pup-Pee has won multiple awards for its ever evolving Pet Waste Management range of products and has successfully sold them through tens of thousands of independent dealers, multi-chain retailers as well as national pet retail giants in numerous markets. 

Further growth is an ongoing objective for Pup-Pee and they are currently seeking multiple partners with experience to expand their current distribution channels. 

The success of Pup-Pee Solutions to date is all about innovative first class products merged with first class service. The team within the organization is highly professional, motivated and passionate about pets. Pup-Pee has built an honest and reputable name within the global pet industry servicing Vets, Doggy Day Care Centers, Breeders, Obedience Professionals & even Groomers. 

Keen to discuss business? Feel free to jump online at www.thepetloo.com to find out more about Pup-Pee Solutions – who they are and how they go about their business. 

Follow Pup-Pee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PetLoo

Contact:

Los Angeles (Global Business): +1 310 591 8123 | Email Now

New York (US National Business): +1 646 383 8886 | Email Now

Australia (AU & NZ Business): +61 9415 8599 | Email Now

  Videos & TV appearance: www.youtube.com/PetLooUSA

Protect Your Good Ideas

The board of directors they gathered included licensing and patent attorneys as well as accountants and industrial engineers.

"Go and seek legal advice right off the bat," Skovron said. "You really need to seek out people with the right areas of expertise."

Cover every angle. Skovron's company, Pup-Pee Solutions, has since added new products to its lineup and expanded its market to 73 regions around the world. Skovron patents and trademarks each product as it's developed. "We have invested heavily in our intellectual property," he said.

Fight the good fight. Skovron has legal proceedings under way against a couple of imitators.

"I will use every dollar I have and more to chase down someone who decides to rip me off," Skovron said. "It's not just me. I've got 60 other people (employees) to think of."

Pick a weapon. Patent or trademark? Is one better than the other? It depends on your objective, says Oliver Herzfeld, chief legal officer at Beanstalk Group, a brand licensing firm. "Patents protect the inventor," he said. "A trademark is basically protecting the (product) name."

In other words, patents prevent competitors from re-creating your product for 20 years. A trademark prevents them from using your product's name for as long as you're in business. "If you fail to use your trademark in commerce for a certain period of time, you lose your rights," Herzfeld said.

Keep your secrets. Bug Bam's inventor and president, Joseph Symond, chose to trademark everything about his all-natural mosquito-repellent wristband rather than patent it.

With the latter, "you have to put down every single part of the process," he said. "It becomes like an instruction book on how to create my product." He plans to keep that secret for the long run.

Watch for squatters. People don't just steal business ideas. They can ride on another firm's coattails. That's what happened to Symond.

"A competitor hacked into my Web site and put their TV commercial on my Web site," Symond said. "I'm filing my first lawsuit ever in my life."

Beat your drum. Besides legal wrangling, Symond devotes energy to teaching consumers why his repellent is safe and effective. "All the advertising I do is focused on educating the customer," he said.

While his blog may have a limited audience, it has a long reach.

"That blog gets picked up (and re-posted) by multiple sources," Symond said. "I write it more like a public service announcement with real facts and figures."

  

It’s tough being a celebrity in LA!

It seems that where ever they go, The Pet Loo Spoodles, Subii and Coopa, are being stopped in the street by their fans. People love the playfulness of these gorgeous dogs, but they don’t always recognise the breed.

Spoodles are a hybrid dog – a cross between an American Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel and a poodle (in most cases the miniature poodle or toy poodle) - and in the US they are commonly known as a Cockapoo.

Spoodles have become popular because they generally combine the outgoing, loving personality of the cocker spaniel with the low-shedding, low-dander qualities of the poodle, resulting in a loving, intelligent, very energetic and agile dog that sheds very little. The poodle parent also contributes intelligence and a tendency to be very active. They thrive when they can exercise regularly, either by having a yard to run around in or by having a human who will walk them and play with them.

Spoodles are very people oriented and affectionate, with a clown like personality. Most Spoodles are easy to train and they work well as a children's dog.[1]

The Pet Loo Spoodles were purchased from breeders Liz and Larry Seear from Billabong Creek Farm [2] in Victoria, Australia.

Click here to read more about Billabong and their dogs.