It’s the most exciting day we’ve had in the office this year! Not only did very little work get done in the morning, as we all laughed and giggled at what a delight little Zeke was, and how quiet he was for a pup, but so did everyone else in the surrounding offices. It seemed anyone that could make an excuse to knock on our door, did!

And Zeke was the perfect little angel through all the pats and cuddles from so many new faces. All he had to do was bat his ginger eyelashes to get every adult in the room talking in that funny, high-pitched voice normally used on small children; “Who’s a gorgeous little boy? You are Zeke, you are!”

No one was more excited when we pulled The Mini Wee Pet Loo out of the box than Zeke – though he was more interested in rolling on the grass, than using it as a toilet. But hey, that’s all part of the training right?

We armed ourselves with paper towel, Liquid Ate (Stain eliminator) and Whiff Off (odour eliminator) ready for the onslaught of pee! How disappointed we were – there was no need for our preparations at all! Within minutes of being in the office Zeke had already done a number two’s on the Mini Wee and under the watchful eye of his many new office parents, had been spotted in the squat position and swiftly picked up and placed on the Mini Wee before a single drip fell onto the carpet.

Pup-Pee Team: 2

Puppy: 0

Though by mid-morning he was passed out in that position favoured by most dogs; flat on his back, spread eagled, snoring that cute little puppy snore (you know the one, it gets louder and less cute the bigger they grow!).

When he finally woke up in the afternoon we had a ‘number one’ accident followed shortly by a ‘number one’ jackpot! A direct pee on the Mini Wee, though this was a pick up by an office parent rather than Zeke making the effort himself.

We placed him on the Mini Wee after his accident to help him associate the Loo with toileting and he was given a treat after his ‘jackpot’ pee! You can never praise young pups enough when they do the right thing – it will only encourage them to continue with that particular behavior in future.

All in all, we left the office unscathed and feeling rather happy about ourselves. Every dog, just like every toddler, takes toilet training at their own pace and it seemed that Zeke was making this a lot easier on us then we could have ever hoped for!

Pookinuk believes in quality for your best friend, searching the world to bring you products of the highest quality for your pet to enjoy.[1] 

At Pookinuk you will only find quality products that your pet will love. 

Pookinuk utilises the Internet to offer a home delivery service, which takes the hassle out of providing the best quality pet food for your pet. No more heavy bags, parking hassles, queues or fuel costs!   Just shop from the comfort of your home and Pookinuk will deliver to your door. 

Pookinuk offers a convenient alternative to traditional pet supply outlets. A unique combination of the internet, home delivery and quality products allows customers to receive all their pet supplies at the click of a button.

You can even buy PetPlan’s dog & cat insurance at Pookinuk.  

Pookinuk also firmly believe in giving back to the community that supports them and so have joined forces with PetRescue to help Australia's rescue pets! If you nominate PetRescue and purchase pet food from the Pookinuk website, Pookinuk will donate a percentage of the purchase to help support us in the work we do. 

Pup-Pee and Pookinuk joined forces in early 2007 and since then Pookinuk have become one of our strongest selling retailer partners.

“If you love your pet……you’ll love Pookinuk!"[2]

[1] http://www.petrescue.com.au/information_library/rescue_news/petrescue_newsletters/426

[2] http://www.pookinuk.com.au/about-pookinuk.asp

Hi, All you animal lovers!

This is pretty simple…. Please ask ten friends to each ask a further ten today!

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals.

It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.

Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! 
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Please pass it along to people you know.

How a dog in the workplace can help lower stress levels

By Tricia Phillips

Eddie the dog really loves his day job.

If he’s not lounging on his own personal bean bag by his owner’s desk he’s up on top of it overseeing Jane Preston’s work or accepting cuddles and offers of walks from adoring colleagues.

“Having him there really helps me de-stress and brings me pleasure every day,” says Jane, who works for internet giant Google at its Central London HQ.

“The office is always more energised when Eddie is around!”

Experts, including 82% of GPs, agree with Jane, saying that pets at work can help employees relax, reduce stress and heart rate and even lower blood pressure.

“Even my 45-minute commute during rush hour is a pleasure with Eddie around – people smile and even talk to me,” says Jane, 43.

The benefits of doggy power – particularly in these troubled economic times – is being celebrated next Wednesday with Take Your Dog To Work Day.

It’s hoped that thousands of dog-lovers will take their pet pooches into the workplace.

“I can’t encourage people enough,” says Jane. “If your dog is well-trained then persuade your company to let you do it. You won’t regret it.”

Research by The Blue Cross pet charity – which is backing the event – supports Jane’s view.

A survey has shown that more than 90% of employers which allowed dogs in noticed a positive change in the working environment. Half even found that there was a decrease in absenteeism, while two-thirds said it improved staff morale.

On average Eddie, a terrier/whippet cross rescued from Battersea Dogs Home nine years ago, commutes in at least twice a week from Jane’s home in Carshalton Beeches, Surrey.

“He always manages to make space for himself – usually under the seat behind my legs,” says Jane, who works as a facilities manager running Google’s various buildings.

“The vast  majority of fellow travellers love having him around.”

From the station it’s a short walk to the office where Eddie settles down on his bean bag.

“Google, where I’ve worked for more than six years, has an official ‘dog policy’ in all of its offices worldwide.

“Well-behaved dogs are welcome so long as nearby colleagues have no objections, allergies or fears.”

And in Jane’s office, everyone simply adores Eddie.

“At times there can be a line of people waiting for a cuddle.

“Taking him for a walk is never a problem, no matter how busy I may get, so many people love to take him out. One colleague runs at lunchtime and will often take him with her.”

When Jane’s day is getting manic she loves nothing more than to give Eddie a pat. “I instantly feel myself calming down. He has the same effect on everyone else.”

Eddie even has an international following. “When I’m doing video conferences he’s there and everyone calls out to see how he’s doing. He makes people smile which can only be a good thing.”

In fact Eddie’s now so famous in the office that he’s even had a colour printer named after him.

“He’s quite a star and even goes down well with celebrities,” says Jane proudly.

“One day David Hasselhoff came in for a chat with the team. While a group of adoring fans surrounded him, Eddie decided to see what all the fuss was about.

“The Hoff instantly fell in love with him. There were some jealous glares that day!”

Eddie, who is about 10, is house-trained, so unfortunate accidents are never an issue.

“Otherwise there could be mayhem. If there were any high jinks Eddie would be on the first train home,” adds Jane.

sit and stay..be the boss

1TAKE a bed, water bowl and a few favourite toys.

2LET your dog explore the  office.

3INTRODUCE them to your workmates.

4LET people know if you’re leaving the office, so they can keep an eye on your dog.

5CONSIDER getting a dog pen.

1A pet in the workplace can help reduce stress levels and heart rates. The simple action of stroking can actually lower blood pressure.

2Dogs are great ice-breakers with both clients and colleagues.

3Dogs create a feel-good factor among staff.

4You’ve always got a friend near by no matter how bad things get

5It will help you get out for some fresh air at lunch.

More… Click Here

Pet Fashion Week draws New York's best dressed dogs to Chelsea

By Dave Goldiner
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Siegel for News

Joan Volpe,of the Fashion Institute of Technology Center for Professional Studies shows off a silk-lined dog overcoat at Pet Fashion Week on Sunday in Chelsea (click for gallery).

Some of New York's best dressed dogs strutted their stuff Sunday at Pet Fashion Week in Chelsea.

There were sweaters for shih-tzus, gowns for great Danes, and leashes that looked great on lhasa apsos.

Nearly 2,000 makers of doggie apparel - everything from raingear to formal attire - turned out for the annual pet-palooza at the Metropolitan Center on W. 18th St.

One 2-year-old Maltese named Mochi modeled a dress from the spring line of Mochi & Jolie.

A Morkie from Lambertville, N.J., gazed longingly at a wall packed with pet accessories.

Lily Pad and Penny Lane, two Cavalier King Charles spaniels were decked out in their best ribbons and dresses.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/24/2009-08-24_poochy_keen_attire_canine_cuties_strut_their_stuff_in_style_at_chelsea_petpalooz.html#ixzz0QYfNY7Cn

 As Featured on PetMD

The Pet Loo  Your Backyard in a Box

Your Backyard in a Box …

The Pet Loo is a great alternative to middle of the night "piddles" and other house breaking drama that can come with the arrival of a new fur baby!

Hygienic, convenient, simple, and environmentally-friendly, this new and innovative lawn toilet is made of synthetic grass, which offers a familiar surface for your pet(s). This synthetic material also ensures that your Pet Loo will be able to solve your dog's potty problems time and time again.

The Pet Loo's unique draining system places the urine in an easy-to-clean compartment, which is effective for dogs of all sizes — finally solving the toilet training headaches most pet owners deal with every day. It is easy to use and great for apartments, condos, balconies, patios, even RVs.

The Haute or Not? testers have not yet had the opportunity to use The Pet Loo, but we have seen and felt the synthetic grass, and are sure that most dogs, young or old, would be quite comfortable using it. So rest easy and enjoy having a pet in your life, while The Pet Loo takes care of the toilet problems for you.

Learn more @ www.thepetloo.com/us

Register your vote at: Petmd.com

In May 2008, Pup-Pee Solutions let loose their enzyme based sanitising solutions Wee Care, Whiff and Liquid Ate. These chemical free cleansers have sold in amazing numbers not just around Australia, but around the world.

We are proud to say that there has not been one dissatisfied customer!

So exactly one year later, May 2009 we have launched three new products in a continuation of this line.

The House of Loo would like to introduce to you Kitty Care, Pup Care and Critter Care.

These lines were developed to create a healthy habitat for your pet and your family. The new products, just like the previous lines, are 100% natural and specifically formulated to effectively eliminate and sanitse your pet’s toileting environment.

Kitty Care was formulated to sanitise the Kitty Kat Pet Loo or existing Kitty Litter trays.

Pup Care can be used for dog kennels, cages, carriers and puppy play pens.

While Critter care will take care of your rabbit hutch, guinea pig cage, ferret enclosure or small pet play pens.

All of our enzyme products are non-toxic, non-irritating, 100% biodegradable and harmless to your pet, your family and the environment.

It has become a common complaint in today’s society about the high costs involved in keeping healthy. Organic this and low fat that, creams and ointments to cure anything, gyms opening up in every shopping strip… and of course health care.

It’s all too easy to whine about GP’s that don’t bulk bill, increasing costs for health insurance and how the government is running the health system. 

Well spare a thought for pet owners. An article from Perth Now states that ‘high vet fees can easily reach thousands of dollars for operations (on your pet) because there is no government subsidy.[1] Even expenses for annual routine care such as vaccinations, teeth cleaning and flea, tick and worm control can come as quite a shock.

Vets say too often it is a sad choice for euthanasia when owners are faced with the choice that their pet can be treated, but that it will cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.’ Considering most pets today are not just animals, but members of the family, it doesn’t come as surprise to see the establishment of Pet Insurance.

Many of the well known home, car or life insurance companies are broadening their plans to now cover Fido or Rex. With so many to choose from and more popping up every month, insurance prices are becoming quite competitive.  

In saying this, as a pet owner about to take out pet insurance, be sure to check for policy exclusions. ‘Most insurers won’t cover dogs and cats over eight years, so like any other insurance check the exclusions, payout limits and premiums compared to the services you are likely to use. Limits and exclusions are especially likely to apply to accident prone, large sized or high maintenance breeds, or because of local environment reasons (ticks etc).  Most insurers don’t offer life insurance on pets or coverage when they go missing. 1‘

The puppy, a Portuguese water dog, as anticipated, is 6 months old and black and white. It was named Bo by Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, apparently in honor of their maternal grandfather, who went by the nickname Diddley.

The Washington Post claimed credit for the name scoop in its Sunday editions while also reporting that it had been itself scooped, upsetting a deal the newspaper worked out with the White House to get "the puppy exclusive."

Naturally, for this day and age, two websites got there first: the celebrity news site TMZ.com and a heretofore unknown site called FirstDogCharlie.com, which posted a picture Saturday of Bo wearing a colorful Hawaiian lei around his neck.

On Friday, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, press secretary to first lady Michelle Obama, denied there would be any puppy news over the weekend. After the leaks, she released few other details except that Bo will be introduced formally on Tuesday.

Where is Bo now? Was he a gift from U.S. Sen. (and Portie promoter) Ted Kennedy, who has three of the bushy-haired dogs? Lelyveld wouldn't say, but Kennedy released a statement. "We couldn't be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha," Kennedy said.

Meanwhile, TMZ said it had lots of detail about the dog by late Friday, but Lelyveld declined to confirm or deny any of it on Sunday. It was not known who is behind FirstDogCharlie.com or where its information came from.

If Washington is fixated on the White House puppy, it's fair to say the obsession was stoked by President Obama, who has repeatedly teased the media with tidbits. As recently as Friday, after Obama made a statement on the economy, a reporter asked about the puppy, again.

"Oh, man, now, that's top-secret," Obama said with a laugh.

A secret not so tightly held, as it turned out

Honda's dog-friendly Element

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — Hercules, a Chihuahua mix, went car shopping recently without the slightest worry of pushy salespeople, high-pressure tactics or getting a loan. Hercules looked over a new "dog friendly" Honda Element at a dog park here at the invitation of USA TODAY, which got a peek at the vehicle prior to its public debut Thursday at the New York International Auto show.

The new version of the Element is sort of a rolling Ritz-Carlton for the canine set. It features a built-in bed in the cargo area, a private electric cooling fan, a spill-proof water bowl and a mesh net to keep animals separated from people. Rubber floor mats are embellished with a dog-bone design. Being shown at the show as a concept, a final version of the pooch-coddling 2009 Element will go on sale in late summer, setting up a dogfight of sorts with Toyota.

The new version of the Element is sort of a rolling Ritz-Carlton for the canine set. It features a built-in bed in the cargo area, a private electric cooling fan, a spill-proof water bowl and a mesh net to keep animals separated from people. Rubber floor mats are embellished with a dog-bone design. Being shown at the show as a concept, a final version of the pooch-coddling 2009 Element will go on sale in late summer, setting up a dogfight of sorts with Toyota.

Honda's rival has outfitted its Venza crossover with its own canine-friendly features and displayed it at a few dog parks and events around the country.The Venza offers doggy seat mats, barriers and other items designed to make dogs and their owners more comfortable.

Honda and Toyota officials say the curious timing of the twin debuts is just coincidence. In an age when dogs join HMOs, get massages and see therapists, it was only a matter of time before they could have their own limousines.More empty-nesters dote on their dogs now as their children have scattered, says James Jenkins, a Honda product planner.

Who let the dogs in?

It's no small market. About 63% of U.S. households have a pet, the American Pet Products Association found in its 2007-2008 pet owners survey. More households, 44.8 million, own a dog than a cat, 38.4 million.The average owner spends $580 to $875 a year on food and care for their dog, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.Honda started thinking about a dog version of the Element after unveiling a concept vehicle focusing on the same theme at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, Jenkins says. The "WOW," for "wonderful open-hearted wagon," fit nicely into the nonsense that often defines the Tokyo show, says Jenkins, but Honda received a surprising barrage of support from fans. The Element, largely unchanged since it was developed as a youth-oriented, surf and camp funmobile in 2003, seemed well-suited to the dog-loving crowd.

Besides its large, boxy space in back, Element has a relatively low floor for a crossover SUV and an interior designed to be easy to clean. Besides the bed and other dog-friendly features, the dog-oriented Element even has a fold-out ramp for dogs that can't, won't or shouldn't (because some breeds can develop bad backs later in life) make the leap into the Element's rear.

The Element EX retails for $22,385, but the price with the added pet features has not yet been specified.When it comes to Toyota's Venza, owners will have to choose from an a la carte menu of accessories. They include $44.99 for a "zip line" to keep an 80-pound or larger dog confined in the back seat or $99.99 for a "bi-fold pet ramp." The idea grew after Bob Zeinstra, a Toyota national marketing manager, read an article on the growth of the pet market a couple of years ago. He saw the potential. "A lot of times, we throw ideas against the wall, and they don't stick. This is one of those ideas that really resonated," Zeinstra says.

Toyota has made a direct appeal to dog owners around the country. It has sponsored dog-oriented television shows on cable television and started showing off the Venza at dog parks around the country.At the Redondo Beach dog park, Hercules toured both the Venza and the Element before rendering a verdict: a big paws-up and tail wag for the Honda.

"My dog likes the Element, and I like the Venza," said Hercules' human companion, Andrew Gardiner, a movie location scout from Lawndale, Calif.

Leaders of the pack

Hang around at a dog park, and you soon see how dog owners choose their vehicles with their dogs in mind.

One of them is Romy Friedman of Manhattan Beach, Calif., who works in real estate and who is shopping for a new car.

"I am buying the car for the dog," says Friedman, who happened by the dog park with Buster, her golden doodle (golden retriever/poodle mix). She had looked at Hyundai, Lexus and BMW, but prefers the Element. "He's a big dog. I want him to go in the back, not on the seat."

No matter which vehicle an owner chooses, experts say the key to carrying pets safely in cars is to make sure they're restrained, tethered or kept in crates with tie downs so they can't interfere with the driver.

"About 30,000 accidents a year are caused by pets," says Lindsay Wood, director of animal training for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Boulder, Colo. Wood has been working with Toyota on its Venza program. "It's a much safer option to have them restrained."

She says she practices what she preaches when it comes to her two Labradors. "Their safety is important to me," she says. "They like their crates."