Labor Day Weekend Sale!

Today marks the start of our annual Labor Day Weekend Sale! Fall is just around the corner and this is a perfect opportunity for you to save big on autumn essentials like dog coats and dog sweaters. Halloween is on the horizon and this holiday weekend sale is prime time to not only get first dibs on our frightfully fantastic dog costumes, but you can also save big! Act now to save 20% off all regular priced items. Use the coupon code "WKND20". This coupon is good until Monday, 9/3 @ 11:59 PM.

Chicken Pot Pie Dog Biscuits

Everyone loves a hearty, home cooked meal that warms the heart – including your pup! Your dog will adore these easy to make yet delightfully delectable dog biscuits overflowing with homemade goodness!

Ingredients 

1/2 cup Chicken (cooked and shredded)
1/2 cup Peas (cooked and mashed)
1/4 cup Carrots (shredded) 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients until well mixed.
3. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes with the cutter of your choice.
4. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheets and poke with a fork to prevent air bubbles. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
5. Cool and refrigerate.

Optional: Brush the treats with egg whites before baking for a shiny effect.

 - Recipe courtesy of doggydessertchef.com

How to Relieve You Pup’s Itchy Skin

Does your pooch have itchy skin? Incessant itching and scratching can make your dog – and you- crazy! Sporadic itching is common but dogs licking, scratching, biting, and chewing to the extent that they are injuring themselves is a symptom of a more serious underlying issue. If your dog is frequently scratching, it is critical to find out the reason causing this behavior, as this is very irritating for your furry friend! There are numerous things that can cause itchy skin in our canine companions such as dry skin, allergies, parasites, and infection. Observing your dog and both his surroundings and behavior can help you to conclude what the source of his discomfort is.

Dry skin is fairly simple to spot. If you see flakes of dandruff when you part your dog’s fur, he has dry skin. This can be brought on by many different factors. Your surroundings can affect your dog’s skin. If you reside in a location with low humidity, your pet may be more inclined to have dry skin as a result of a lack of moisture in the air. Your dog’s food can also deplete the moisture from his skin. Commercial pet food production processes out the good oils that promote healthy skin. Dry pet food also has a dehydrating affect on skin and fur. If you think this might be the reason behind your dog’s itching, adding digestive enzymes to your dog’s meals could be very helpful. Enzymes will help enhance the release of nutrients and beneficial probiotic bacteria. A healthy digestive system will absorb fluid more easily from the food eaten, and this improves hydration and increases the moisture level of the skin and fur. There are also supplements created specifically for dog’s skin and fur that can promote healthy skin and help relieve itch and dryness.

Another frequent source of itchy skin is allergies. Dogs can be allergic to numerous things but the most common are airborne allergies and food allergies. Airborne allergies are caused by pollen, dust, mildew, insects, or animal/human dander. Dogs have symptoms of hay fever like we do; airborne allergies present themselves in the form of itchy skin. The skin normally has a layer of bacteria present. When dogs scratch, this bacterium is pushed further into skin layers and can cause infection along with great irritation. Food allergies in dogs manifest themselves much differently than they do in humans. Instead of the symptoms we humans experience, their allergy symptoms are again, itchy skin, scratching, licking, and chewing. The most frequent foods dogs are allergic to are chicken, beef, and grains. To discover if one of these ingredients is what is causing your dog’s irritation, you’ll need to perform an elimination diet. To do this, pick a pet food that contains none of these ingredients and give it to your dog for around 2 months. If the symptoms cease, you know that one of these ingredients is the cause.

 No matter what is making your pup itch, finding relief for your pet is essential. Bathing is key to maintaining healthy skin. Routine baths with a medicated or oatmeal dog shampoo can calm your canine’s irritated skin. Using cool water is helpful as it will not exacerbate the itch, unlike warm or hot water. This is not a cure but will definitely provide temporary relief. Make sure to pat your dog dry after the bath and avoid rubbing, which would worsen itching. Benedry is safe for dogs and can also provide short term relief from itching. Your veterinarian can advise the proper dosage and let you know if this would be a good option for your dog.

Petote Dog Carriers Make Travel a Breeze

Petote designer Janet Lee is ardent about two things: her affection for animals and her interest in fashion. In 2001 she chose to bring these two passions together and designed the first Petote dog carrier. These carriers are unique in that they are the first to be assembled in the United States. Each carrier is manufactured out of luxurious materials like suede, tweed, and crocodile and is accentuated with leather shoulder straps. Inspired by the most chic handbags, Petote dog carriers guarantee you’ll tote your pet in style. Petote has many celebrity clients including Jennifer Lopez, Debra Messing, Julianne Moore, Uma Thurman, and many more.

Traveling by air can be an irritating, particularly with your pets in tow. Petote aspires to make traveling much simpler, with many airline approved carriers in numerous styles. Both the Metro Couture and the Metro Classic carriers resemble designer handbags, yet accommodate your pet with utmost comfort. The Carle Dog Carrier resembles a duffle bag, making it an excellent unisex choice. The Kelle Dog Carrier is an ideal merger of style and function. This non-collapsible carrier is a superb choice for both dogs and cats and is an optimal for air travel as well as taking pets to and from the vet. The Rio Dog Carrier on Wheels makes traveling a cinch. In addition to being a carrier on wheels, it is also a backpack and a car seat all rolled into one fashionable package! All of Petote’s carriers offer your pet with absolute comfort on the go. Each carrier has removable faux fur interior bedding and a waterproof nylon lining for easy cleaning.

Dog Fashion: A Brief History

Last week a batch of photographs cataloged at the Library of Congress was released to the public. This collection features bulldogs dressed as people in attire that was very popular in the time frame they were taken. The intriguing thing about these photographs is that they were taken around 1905, when cameras were only affordable for the wealthy and creative photography was very scarce. The first cameras were very different from modern cameras; you had to remain frozen in one position for a number of minutes before the picture was taken. This is  very different from modern cameras where you can take numerous pictures instantly. One would wonder how the photographer got the dogs to remain completely still for so long, with a pipe in their mouth no less!
 After seeing these photos that are more than a century old, you may ponder just how far back dog fashion is embedded in history and the answer might shock you! Dog clothing is not a new manifestation; its background reaches back all the way to 520 A.D! When King Arthur ruled over Great Britain, dogs were employed in the military and law enforcement and donned protective clothing to keep them shielded from injury, cold temperatures and dampness. Dog collars date back even longer, at least to 3100 B.C. Ancient Egyptians embellished their canines in collars that were fashioned out of leather with copper, bronze, and gold adornments. These were not operative collars for guidance or identification, they were proclamations of wealth. Detailed artwork illustrates the Royal courts of Europe with dogs clad in bejeweled dog collars and dog coats. Princess Victoria corresponded in 1833 of donning her spoiled pup in a jacket and pants. At that time, in 19th century Paris, you could readily find dog specialty shops catering to pet fashion for the well to do. Popular writers transcribed in detail articles pertaining to dog fashion and what ensembles were proper for particular occasions.
 While the canine fashion industry has witnessed an enormous growth spurt in the past decade, dog fashion itself has existed for thousands of years. Where it used to be limited strictly to royalty and the wealthy using only the finest textiles and valuable gems, recent technology and innovations have encouraged mass production and affordable materials. This has allowed dog clothing to be readily available for the middle class consumer. Though a lot of clothing is used for operative reasons - protection, warmth and dryness, and medical reasons- designer dog clothing is in huge demand and options are limitless. Dog fashion is a flourishing industry and is here to stay!

What’s in a Name? How to Pick the Perfect Name for Your Pooch

Part of the fun of bringing home a new dog is choosing a name. The name you pick is important… It says as much about you as it does your pet! You want to pick a name that not only fits your dog, but sounds pleasing, too. Your latest addition will become a unique and important member of your family and you will speak his new moniker over 30,000 times in his lifetime, so you want to take care to choose wisely! Your name choice could originate from many different things. You could base the name on something apparent like a physical trait, such as color. You could use a name based on the country of origin for his breed, such as a  Russian name for a husky or a Chinese name for a Shar Pei. You could use the name of someone fictional or a celebrity. Your options are unlimited! Some important things to take into consideration:

• Dog names should not be more than one or two syllables, with two syllables being the more ideal option. The majority of dog commands are one syllable. “Shake”, “Lay”, “Come”, etc. If the dog’s name is two syllables, he can easily make a distinction between his name and the command.

• Dogs identify hard/stop consonants more easily. The prominent stop consonants are b, p, t, d, k, and g. You can capture your dog’s attention more quickly if you use a name that begins with a stop consonant. Dogs also react well to names that end in “y” or “ie”.

• Try to pick a name that is unique and doesn't sound similar to other pet’s names, in addition to those of family members, close relatives and friends. Also choose a name that does not sound like a command you give. This will aid in avoiding confusion for your pooch. If he often hears a similar sounding name or word and mistakes it for his own name but is then ignored afterwards, he will ultimately quit responding to his name.

 • It’s best to only use your dog’s name in a positive tone so that he affiliates his name with treats and good experiences. If you use your pet’s name while punishing him, he could begin to think that his name is bad and therefore run away or refuse to come to you when he hears it.

 • If you are adopting a dog, giving them a different name can be a great idea. They could have bad experiences associated with their previous name, especially if they were mistreated in the past. They may affiliate their former name with abuse and fear. Providing them with a new name can be very therapeutic. You also have no way of knowing if the name the shelter gives you is their ‘real’ name; it could just be a name the shelter provided him with! Dogs do not view their names as characterizing their identities, as people do. It is fairly simple to teach your pup their new name with a little training and effort on your part and as long as you are saying their name with love, they are satisfied.

Summer Clearance Sale: Shop Now While Supplies Last!

Summer is slowly coming to an end and as the warmer temperatures continue to fade, so does our stock of summer dog clothing and apparel! Here at Doggie Vogue, we are getting prepped for autumn and have marked many of our summer items down – Some as low as 75% off the original price! Now is a great time to get last minute summer essentials for your precious pooch. We've lowered prices on select dog tees and tanks, dog harnesses, even our best selling summer dog dresses! Supplies are limited, so shop our clearance section now to save big!

Flower Power: Top 10 Floral Prints under $20

Fun floral prints are a great option for summer and we have a wide variety of cute flower themed dog clothing and accessories. From frilly summer dog dresses to new dog harnesses, we are sure to have something for your canine companion in our floral category. Here we've compiled a list of our top ten floral items, all under the low price of $20!

1. Sweetie Dog Barrettes ($2.99) – These cute dog bows are sure to add excitement to your dog’s wardrobe! These dog bows come in a set of 3 and have a metal clip backing.

2. Spring Garden Dog Collar ($7.99-$12.99) – Summer walks are sure to be fun with this dog collar! This nylon collar offers a colorful floral pattern your pup is bound to adore!

3. Signature Leather Petal Pooch Dog Collar Accessory ($11.99) – Made of genuine leather, these pretty flowers slide right onto your pup’s collar and come in a plethora of colors. An awesome choice for your little diva!

4. Spring Garden Flower Dog Toy ($5.99) – Brilliant colors and a fun design guarantee these toys will be a winner! Perfect for cuddling or chewing, with a squeaker for extra enjoyment!

5. Pink Lace Dog Leash ($13.49) - This feminine dog leash offers adorable crocheted flower embellishments, great for your little princess! Pairs great with our Pink Flower Dog Harness!

6. Baby Dog Collar ($14.50) – This darling dog collar by Pinkaholic is an excellent option for your little fur baby! Adorned with sweet studded polka dot flowers, this dog collar is sure to turn heads summer evening walks!

7. Brianna Dog Panties ($18.00) – These delightful dog panties offer a dainty floral print, embellished with pink ruffles and bow. The elastic waist and Velcro closures at hips make for an easy off and on!

8. Minnie Dog Bow ($7.99) – These darling two tone ribbon dog bows have contrast stitching and a central flower embellishment. Perfect for any little girl’s attire!

9. Rope Flowers Dog Toy ($14.99) – Our Rope Flowers Dog Toys are a cheerful, feminine yet sturdy dog toys ideal for tug-of-war and chew games.

 10. Pink Flower Harness Dog Dress ($14.00) – This lovely cotton dog harness is sure to get attention with adorable crocheted flower embellishments and a ruffled lace trim.