by AFP

While Russia's two-legged population feels the financial pinch, designer lines from sportswear to mink coats, evening gowns to bootees are being snapped up... for the nation's dogs.For mankind's four-legged friends the rigours of the Russian winter have long required some extra layers to keep out the cold.

But the jewel-encrusted, over-the-top creations on offer today, together with perfumes, facial masks and Swarkovski-studded leads, go way beyond the imaginings of, say, the 19th century writer Anton Chekhov, who touched on the phenomenon of women and their dogs in "Lady with Lapdog."

Unlocking the commercial potential of the instinct to pamper one's pooch are designers like Svetlana Abramova, who in 2004 launched her own brand, Very Stylish Dog (www.styledog.ru), and is now breaking into the foreign market.

She started out making clothes for humans, but began designing for her chihuahua Boniya in 2001 which soon became a full-time business.

Having got to grips with canine chic, Abramova last year created a range of matching woman and dog outfits for American firm Diamond Dogs, due to go on display in London in March and later in Los Angeles.

The luxury London department store Harrods has ordered a new autumn collection, she says.

And along with fur coats and day, evening and sports wear, her customers can push the boundaries of good taste as never before with costumes that allow their dogs to pose as bees, angels, emergency service workers or nurses.

"Cut with respect for the rules of human haute couture, and weuse only natural materials -- jersey, cashmere and silk -- because some dogs are allergic to synthetic materials," she noted.Shops like Charli in central Moscow offer not only dog apparel but numerous accessories -- including dog rucksacks for venturing far from home turf.

Charli can also give your dog a manicure and dye or plait its hair.

But while it is not unusual to see Russian women in restaurants and nightspots with a dog on one arm, the economic crisis has led to some stylistic changes.

"We today make more clothes in casual style -- more comfortable, more day-to-day and less luxury. Our clothes are being priced more accessibly but remain elegant and fashionable," said the marketing director of Very Stylish Dog, Nail Abrarov."The dogs very quickly get used to the clothes, which protect them from cold and mud. The owners, who treat the dogs like their children, don't want them to get sick," he said.

via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

     
Dogs are extremely sensitive creatures who tend to pick up and internalize their owners’ emotions and feelings: positive and negative. If a dog acts upset, depressed, or low energy, perhaps this best friend has been experiencing feelings similar to those of an owner who may be dealing with stress in her personal and professional life.

Granted humans have multiple ways of dealing with accumulated stress such as taking a bath or checking oneself to a spa for a day. And what’s there to do for the dogs? Interestingly enough, essential oils, relaxing music, and human touch can help our furry best friends relieve their stress too.

To help an owner deal with a variety of dog concerns such as separation anxiety, fatigue and general stress, Best Friend NYC developed a line of Aromatherapy Canine Candles. Carefully chosen essential oil blends in Best Friend NYC Aromatherapy candles address different concerns. For example, spa-inspired “Harmonizing” blend contains green spring florals and Rose which are known to release tension and stabilize mood. “Balancing” and “De-Stress”, in addition to their self-explanatory benefits, also contain Eucalyptus and Geranium which act as natural and gentle insect repellents. All candles are designed to eliminate pet odors and naturally refresh your living space in a clean, Earth- and dog-friendly way.

Available in five essential oil blends, these canine olfactory-specific candles are handmade with 100% pure biodegradable soy wax, and come in recyclable and re-usable clear glass containers with elegant silver lids.

This holiday season give yourself a unique gift of bonding and healing through a warm sensory journey with your furry best friend.




via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

Shit Happens. Dog Poo Bags by Junge Schactel, the design duo from Berlin, Nina Dautzenberg and Andrea Gadesmann. According to their site, these are most hygenic and environmentally-friendly bags to dispose of your doggie's leftovers. Colorful and humorous, they are ideal way to carry precious substances to the the nearby garbage bin. And how adorable is there pup, Cuno?



via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/

By Bob Keefer

Every show has at least one star who just might run off with the audience’s heart.In the Oregon Festival of American Music production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which opens Friday at the Hult Center, that actor’s name is Gracie.Gracie is the 4½-year-old Jack Russell terrier/poodle mix who’s been cast as Toto, the dog that accompanies Dorothy from Kansas to Oz.

Her career took off, almost in spite of the Langs, when they took her to a trainer to help contain her outgoing energy and, quite separately, noticed that strangers often stopped them on the street to comment on how cute she was.Now Gracie, who performs about 40 different tricks — one is opening a Gail Lang’s purse, removing a wallet and taking a dollar bill from it — has not only become a star of stage and television (she’s done several commercials and has been on local TV news) but also makes numerous live charity appearances in and around Eugene.

With the help of former Elmira dog trainer Chris Denning, Gracie — and the Langs — began making appearances around town, helping out with fundraisers for everything from the Rotary Club to the Eugene Symphony. 

She’s raised more than $6,000 for charity, Lang said. Gracie’s work also led her to be inducted into the Oregon Animal Hall of Fame earlier this year. Full story...

via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/