The Gift Detective » For Dogs

PupCakes 2 Go!

The Gift Detective — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:16:27 +0000

Yesterday, I received a sample of a Lucky Paws product, PupCakes 2 Go.

PupCakes 2 Go is a brand new gift that just launched on March 25, 2010 and is the first ever microwaveable treat for pets!

Purchase this Present! $9.95

It makes a great gift on many levels!

* It is super affordable! (under $10)
* It is organic and the ingredients are simple and healthy – nothing artificial and no preservatives (oat flour, rice flour, ground carob flour, wheat germ, flax seed, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder)
* Easy, so your recipient will actually use it! (or you will if it is a gift for your own dog)
* Unique – this is the first ever microwaveable dog treat so it is something unique to give to your friends or loved ones.

I made these for Isabelle last night and she absolutely loved her PupCake! (as have her friends so far…still have some more to share so will update when I get all the feedback) For the purposes of the taste test I did not frost these in any way (they include decorating tips on the box) because I wanted to see how Isabelle like the product by itself – her reaction? She could smell it cooking and came into the kitchen and when I took it out of the microwave I definitely had her attention. Heck, they smelled good to me! After letting them cool Alex and I gave it to her and she eagerly scarfed it down.

They came out perfectly my first try. Totally goof-proof. Add water and peanut butter to the dry mix that they provide, stir, pour into the greased, bone-shaped cupcake pan, that is also included, and microwave for two and a half minutes. They came out of the pan easily and they looked adorable! Honestly, it was so easy and fun to make her this special treat that I think I’m going to make these for her one day each weekend when Alex and I have a special breakfast, she can enjoy her own special treat!

Alex and I even tasted them and, although they smelled delicious to us, they were not sweet enough for our human taste buds (much to Isabelle’s delight! more for her!).

How do you personalize this gift?

* If this present is for your own pup, bake them! Bake them often. Make it a ritual. Make them with lots of love.
* If you are giving this gift to a friend or family member, make a batch and give it to them when you give them the kit (and give them a few refill mixes so they have them on hand as well). The PupCakes look impressive, even undecorated, because the perfect little bone shaped cakes are just adorable as-is, and if you arrange them nicely on a cute plate or in a dog bowl it will be a big hit for any dog owner and their dog. Another way to personalize this, is to include the PupCakes 2 Go kit in a gift basket – arranging this in a dog bowl with a ball or toy that the dog will love will look great and be useful and fun.

Thank you to Melinda for letting us try PupCakes 2 Go! This is a great gift!!! Photo courtesy of Lucky Paws.

Do you have a dog? Have you ever made them treats? Would you take the time to make them something like this? Could you see yourself bringing a gift like this to the next doggy birthday party or as a gift for the host of the next doggy play group, etc.? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy gifting!

Toy Tuesday: Kong Wobbler

The Gift Detective — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:53:26 +0000

This product is so new I haven’t even seen it in stores yet but the well known Kong dog toy company was kind enough to send me a sample of one of their newest dog toys, the Kong Wobbler. ($12.78)

Isabelle (my dog) was kind enough to be my product tester and within seconds of putting it down she was off to play! Her verdict? Definitely gift-worthy for your favorite pooch!

Isabelle is a smaller dog (18 lbs) and she bopped it around with her nose and paw to get at the goodies I placed inside without a problem. She even got creative and picked it up, with her mouth, by the hole that the treats fall out of (shaped, unmistakably, like a miniature Kong) and dropped it to see if that would net her more treats! (sorry neighbors!)

The Kong Wobbler is a puzzle toy for your pooch that screws open so that you can place kibble and/or treats inside for the dog to figure out how to get at. Puzzle toys are great fun for dogs and I highly recommend them as gifts! The base of the Kong Wobbler is weighted so that it will always return to its upright position so your recipient will really get in a nice session of play while they get their meal or treats. This type of gift add variety and excitement to meal time or helps alleviate boredom on a rainy day (or any day!).

To see a video of the Kong Wobbler in action, click here!

The toy is sturdy and made out of FDA, food safe, high-strength polymer so, like other Kong toys, it should last. The Kong Wobbler is dishwasher safe but was very easy to clean up by hand. Almost any dog that is food motivated and over ten pounds will enjoy this toy! It is fun without being too challenging so your doggy friend needn’t be a canine genius to enjoy this gift.

Not that dogs are going to be too concerned with how you make this gift personal, but you can easily make this more personal for the dog’s owner by giving this gift with some super-yummy treats and some fun, dog related gift for the human too!

I was impressed with the minimal, fuss-free packaging. No special tools required to get this toy ready for play and less packaging is always a plus for the environment!

Interested in other dog related gift ideas? Check out, Isabelle’s Picks!

What is your dog’s favorite toy? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy gifting!

Sleuthing Sunday: Investigating Deals and Discounts Here!

The Gift Detective — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:47:08 +0000

This Sunday, I want YOU to be the sleuth!

First of all, investigate my latest GiftAway for a great Mother’s Day gift!

Secondly, you know my post about the personalized candles? Well, Madison is offering readers incredible discounts!

* 20% discount on custom Mother’s Day candles
* Free consultation (usually $25/hour)
* Unlimited photo proofs and changes (a savings of up to $75.00)

To obtain these deals – just mention The Gift Detective sent you when you contact Madison Hill Candles!

Lastly, don’t forget that I have a great discount on the DVD, Yoga4Dogs.

Want to do even more sleuthing? Check out some of my previous posts by visiting any of the links listed below with LinkWithin.

Happy gifting!

Frugal Friday: Canine Kerchiefs and Canine Crunchies by Bow-Wow, Inc.

The Gift Detective — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:36:38 +0000

Little Girls Trying to Make a Big Difference

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with two spirited and charming young ladies, Daviana Englander and Emily Larabee, ages 10 and 11 respectively, who have founded Bow-Wow, Inc. for the sole purpose of raising money to for animal shelters.

Daviana and Emily, founders of Bow-Wow, Inc.

I met with the girls to gather clues as to why the started this venture, what their goals are, how they make their goods and how you can support their effort.

Daviana’s (Davi, for short) and Emily’s mothers had met years ago but the girls only became friends around 2008, when they met playing soccer. From there the girls have clearly grown to be close friends. (evidenced by goofy behavior that often arises when girls of 10 and 11 get together for an afternoon of interviews and smoothies – giggles, teeth chattering, talk of Guinea pig tutus, et cetera) Both girls attend school in Cambridge, MA and they share many activities, including swimming, horseback riding and gymnastics, as well as their love of animals and their creative, giving spirit – all key pieces to this puzzle.

About a year ago, Davi and Emily , were bored and wanted something to do. Davi had recently read an article about the financial hardships that shelters were experiencing due to the economy and the girls got to thinking and decided they were going to do something to help. They were too young to volunteer, but that didn’t deter them! The girls decided they would make dog neckerchiefs, cleverly called, Canine Kerchiefs, to sell so that they could raise money for various shelters – and thus Bow-Wow, Inc. was born.

To make the Canine Kerchiefs, the girls pick out the fabric (which Emily especially loves and I suspect she gets this trait from her mom!), as well as occasionally helping cut the pieces which are then sewn by Hannah, Emily’s mother. Davi and Emily complete the process of assembling baskets of their Canine Kerchiefs by folding them up very nicely and then adorning each one with a ribbon and tag. The finished product is very professional and practically gift wrapped for you!

A sampling of the girls' products - find out how to purhcase or win below!

Because the money is being raised to go to animal shelters, local pet stores have allowed them to put their baskets of Canine Kerchiefs out for people to purchase, and you too can support the girls while getting a great gift for just $5! That in itself is a good deal but when you factor in that the girls are donating this money to places like the MSPCA, you’ve got a product and a donation all rolled into one. This is one of those gifts that give back!

The girls expanded their efforts and decided they wanted to make treats as well, dubbed, Canine Crunchies, that they sell for just $4. While we sat in the cafe, they came up with a very cute Valentine idea for dogs, which I will of course be featuring on the site as soon as they have some ready. Apparently, the treats are their favorite to make since it is such a hands on project for them and they even make different sized treats to accommodate different sized dogs. Smart girls!

Emily’s and Davi’s goal is to make a donation to a charity each time they earn $150. The first charity they have chosen to donate to is the MSPCA and then they will be doing some research and choosing another shelter that they want to support.

It makes sense that Davi and Emily have chosen to donate to help the animals they so obviously love. They were all smiles as they talked about their own pets. Between them, they have a cat, a dog, 3 degus and 8 Guinea pigs, many of them rescues from shelters. Inspiring isn’t it?

The girls' Guinea pigs!

If you want to support their cause, there are a few ways to do so:

* Locally – they have their items in Animal Spirit, Laundromutt (upstairs in the lounge) and Pet Spa.

* Online – you can contact them via e-mail to place an order. They have expanded their business to include cotton, flannel and fleece Canine Kerchiefs as well as homemade Canine Crunchies.

* Additionally – if you have a business, and would like to support their efforts, why not contact them about placing some of their products in your store?

Eventually, the girls would like to raise enough money to have their own website as well, but for now they are content to try to sell locally and via e-mail.

If you live in the Boston area, you might have even seen their wares – that is how I initially learned about Bow-Wow, Inc. I was getting dog food from Animal Spirit for my own pup and I saw their display…only you might recognize the girls by their pseudonyms, Ashly and Katy! When they first started Bow-Wow, Inc, the girls were just at that age where make-believe and figuring out their own identity conspired to make them want to try on a different name for size, so they created adorable displays with their pseudonyms and contact info. (I’m sure many of us remember that age…I always dressed up in disguises when I was playing detective and often went by, Gloria!)

I was warmed to see how supportive Davi’s and Emily’s moms (Audrey and Hannah, respectively) were about their daughters’ work. They help with the numerous trips to the fabric store, sewing, driving to restock the baskets, and, perhaps most importantly, the emotional support.

Please support this noble and sweet effort! Contact them today to place an order or visit one of the businesses that are generous enough to display their products. Share this post with friends and colleagues to help Emily and Davi support the animals they so dearly love! (as easy as clicking the orange “+” icon below)

These make terrific gifts for the dogs you own or as a gift for your friends who have dogs. They have seasonal, sports themed and fashionable offerings for any pet. The Canine Kerchiefs are 20″x20″ and will fit most dogs. (I fold Isabelle’s in half so that it forms a smaller triangle so it is definitely adjustable for those of you with smaller dogs!)

Want to win a Canine Kerchief to give or to keep?

Well, I’m having a Canine Kerchief GiftAway and entering is really easy!

Three opportunities to enter:

leave a comment on this post (equals 1 entry)
send a pic of your dog (equals 1 entry)
become a member (equals 2 entries!).

Deadline to enter is March 1, 2010 and winner will be picked at random and notified via e-mail. (E-mail addresses are not disclosed to third parties! Please enter with the e-mail address you would like to be notified at if you win. More info on my Privacy Policy here.) Good luck!!!

Happy gifting!

Toy Tuesday: Do you Mind?

The Gift Detective — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:01:54 +0000

No, I’m not being flip with that title…Do You Mind? is the name of a game for people and their dogs!

Photo courtesy of Darf, Inc. - Avalilable for $24.95 - Click to Purchase

Do You Mind? would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves to do things with their dog.

And this is why – here are some details along with my thoughts…

Portability – The game comes in a plastic container, about 6.5″ high and 3.5″ wide. The top of the container screws on (ensuring all your pieces stay inside if you toss this in your backpack or car!) and doubles as the handle. I think the portability really increases your recipient’s chances of being able to make the most out of this game, because it would be so easy to bring this to the dog park or a friend’s house to have some fun.

Fun! – The tasks range from super easy (get your dog to sit) to moderately difficult (get your dog to fetch something and drop it through your arms formed into a hoop). The game isn’t designed to stump you with impossible tasks, rather, it really seems to be designed for people to have fun and help both owner and dog grow – both the relationship and training will improve by playing this game.

Ease of Use/Time Efficient – Roll a die, pick a card and try to get your dog to perform the task on the card. How easy is that? If you have one minute you can play this game (the time you are allotted to try to get your dog to do the trick). Guess what? You are going to want to play it for longer! Easy to set- up, no complicated rules…just open it and play! This ease of use will allow you to easily get people involved and playing this game.

Variety – Not only are there 60 different activity cards to give you and your dog variety, there are also 5 different ways to play this game – Solitaire, Quick Play, Competition, First Dog and Not My Dog.

Good for one or more people and one or more dogs! This versatility reminds me of the game SET, only this one is for people and dogs. Really versatile with how many people and dogs can play – the score pad has 4 columns for names but this game could easily accommodate more than 4 people/dogs. Great game for a dog birthday party or any party!

This is a game that I will play with Isabelle often. At the park to help her train with distractions, with my boyfriend to have a little fun competition, at the dog park to meet people, their dogs and have fun, inside on a rainy day…I see so many opportunities to enjoy this game. I love that I have to be creative to try to get her to complete an activity she’s never encountered, while at the same time she has to think and focus – I think this kind of mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.

Great gift for a friend! With the number of dog birthday parties, play dates and dog parks on the rise – this gift will make you stand out from everyone else and will provide lasting fun for both recipient and dog.

If you have a dog, this would make a great gift for them from you! Sure, dogs love treats and toys, but this toy IS a treat because dogs love interaction and attention and this gift will give them both.

What kinds of games or activities do you love to play with your pet? Could you see yourself playing this game with a group of people or by yourself? Let me know by leaving me a comment!

Happy gifting!

The Gift Detective » For Dogs

PupCakes 2 Go!

Toy Tuesday: Kong Wobbler

Sleuthing Sunday: Investigating Deals and Discounts Here!

Frugal Friday: Canine Kerchiefs and Canine Crunchies by Bow-Wow, Inc.

Want to win a Canine Kerchief to give or to keep?

Toy Tuesday: Do you Mind?

Read more to see why this game has been Gift Detective APPROVED!

Do You Mind? would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves to do things with their dog.