March Camper Of The Month

This is Autumn our March Camper Of The Month at Best Friends.

Most Valuable Pet Contest

This photo is of Gizmo, one of the previous winners of Bissell's contest.

photo from Bissell.com photos

Do you think your pet has what it takes to be a MVP? Bissell has a contest where you can send in a picture of your pet for a chance to be on one of their vacuum boxes. How cool would that be to be walking down the aisle at the store look over to the vacuum aisle and their is your pets picture! I better not send in Toby's photo he already thinks he's cute. If he wins that I would really be in trouble! Good Luck to all those that enter.

The Huck Em Dog Toy

This weeks cool dog toy is the Huck Em series by the Kyjen company. They are perfect for the upcoming summer season. They float in the water, and fly real far when thrown! They are also pretty sturdy for those of you who have dogs that think the toy that looks like a duck really is one! We have a large selection of sizes and styles here in our store.

Puppy Weddings

Click on photo above to view more adorable wedding pictures on Wetv.

Imagine a couple in love, sitting on a boat dock, enjoying each others company. The sun is bright, the sky is clear, a beautiful picture to add to their wedding album. This was the backdrop to one of Alex and Emily's many wedding photos in their album. Now imagine if you will an adorable little pug, and handsome bulldog, this folks is Alex and Emily! Check out WEtv.com for some very adorable wedding videos, and albums of the "four legged" kind! Pretty cute stuff!

Giant George

Giant George as he is appropriately named, is the worlds largest dog according to the Guinness Book Of World Records. Click on the photo above to view George and his owner on The Today Show.

Interactive Pets

This website is too much fun! I can have my very own cute puppy to play with, and Toby will not get jealous! FooPets.com, is an interactive website where you get to pick and name you very own puppy or kitten. You can then feed, water, play, groom them on a regular basis. You can log on so you can have online puppy play dates, their is even updates sent to you to remind you of when your puppy needs vaccinations etc. This is a great site for kids that really want a puppy! It will get them use to the responsibility.

Seat Belt Safety For Dogs

The Daily Herald, Associated Press, recently had an interesting article on pet safety. According to Bark Buckle Up, a California based pet advocacy group, a 60 lb golden retriever can hit you with 2,700 pounds of force in a 35 mph crash. WOW! They have compiled a nice helpful list of safety restraints for your furry friends.

Dog Safety Harness: Various companies, including Ruff Rider, and Immi Inc. make harnesses for dogs that can be connected to the seat belts in the back of your car. Bark Buckle Up recommends Immi's PetBuckle. It has passed the same kind of crash tests used for humans.

Crates and Carriers: An enclosed crate or carrier is the safest place for a pet. Carriers should be secured in the seat with a tether system that snaps into the seat belts.

Pet Tube: No your dog will not be going tubing down the sled hill with the kids! This tube is a fabric tunnel with a mesh top that snaps into the back seat. While the dog is not harnessed inside, he is still kept in a confined area, so as he will not go far if you stop fast. Jetsetfido.com sells them in various sizes.

Booster Seats: You got it, you now can have one for your child and the dog! Dog booster seats are perfect for smaller dogs that want to be able to see out the car window. This will keep them secure and allow them to see what is around without jumping around. For those smaller dogs that get colder quicker they also have heated booster seats.

No matter how short of a trip you might be taking with your canine companion in the car, always remember to be safe. Even if your dog might listen well to you and stay in one spot during the ride, keep in mind how he might react if you were in an accident, and someone else was coming into the car to help you out. Dogs often react differently in stressful situations.

Imagine Yourself As A Dog

Next time you are sitting by the computer try these quizzes out!

DO YOU WORK LIKE A DOG?

This one was pretty cute. Gives you a series of work related questions. After completing them all it will tell you what group you fall into. Herding Dogs, Therapy dogs, Hunting Dogs. I will remain silent on which category I fell into.

WHAT KIND OF A DOG WOULD I BE?

Now this one can get pretty interesting! After answering a series of regular everyday life related questions it will tell you what type of dog you are and why! Thanks goodness it explains the why part! I was not to sure about it at first, until I really thought about it. Pretty scary stuff! LOL.

We TV has a new section dedicated to pets. I love this channel even more now. Rumor has it in the near future they will have a show on "puppy weddings". I am not to sure what I think of that one, but I bet it is going to be pretty darn cute! Toby is excited!

Best Friends Dog Camp

Keep watching to see who had what it took to be the March camper of the month at Best Friends Dog Camp.

Pet Dental Month

The following are some helpful hints on how to get a regular dental routine set for your pet. This was taken directly from Hills Pet Dental website. For those of you who use our grooming services here at Best Friends we do offer teeth brushing as part of the salon experience! We also have a wide assortment of interactive toys to help with cleaning of the teeth, and various flavored toothpaste for those of you who would like to try this at home.

STEP 1: Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam. Don’t wait for his annual checkup if you suspect a problem.

STEP 2: Begin a dental care regimen at home. Your veterinarian can suggest steps that may include brushing your pet's teeth. One of the most convenient and effective ways to combat oral disease is feeding specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup. The Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council, an organization initiated by the American Veterinary Dental Society to guide consumers, appears on products that meet defined standards for plaque and tartar control in dogs and cats. For further information on the VOHC or their product standards, visit http://vohc.org/.

STEP 3: Schedule regular veterinary checkups. These are essential in helping your veterinarian monitor the progress of your pet's dental health routine. Your veterinary health care team can help you schedule the appropriate visits.

Mardi Paws

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

It is that time of year again for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. While Toby and I enjoy all the breeds, and feel they are all worthy of winning, there was one dog in particular we were rooting for. Otterside Otterby Pooh Bears Dream, call name Hunny. Hunny is a border terrier owned by Carol Samp of Wheeling. Those of you who know us here at
Best Friends are smiling as you read this. Carol was a long time groomer here at Best Friends in Prairie View. She left us a few years ago to pursue her passion. We wish you all the luck Carol, and to everyone else out there. Television coverage began on USA network on Monday and continues on through today.

Retail Sale

Only 3 more days left for our Valentines half off sale! Everything and anything in our store that is red and pink is half off! Buy your favorite furry valentine a comfy new bed, or a fun new toy. Sale excludes food. Offer ends February 17th.

Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to all of our furry friends out there!

Will You Be Mine?

What a great turn out for our first annual Valentine Social! Well over 30 dogs stopped by today to play at Best Friends. We will definitly have to have another get together in March! Stay tuned for details.

Valentine Doggie Party

Valentine Social For The Dogs

YOUR INVITED!

BEST FRIENDS FIRST ANNUAL VALENTINE SOCIAL

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13,2010

1PM-3PM

Bring the whole family, even your neighbor dog friends! This party is for all dog friendly dogs and their human families. This party will be held in our camp room so the dogs can run off leash and play! All dogs must show proof of current Rabies, Bordatella, and Distemper.

Please help us help others by bringing a donation of can or dry dog/cat food for Nina's Pet Food Pantry.

The Shelter Pet Project

The Shelter Pet Project is the coolest network I have seen in a long while. It is an interactive site for adults and kids. For the adults it is nice because you can go on the site and list your zip code then it will give you a list of animal shelters and pet rescues in your area. They also have direct links that allow you to go directly to that rescues website. For the kids they have a really neat video collection to explain the reasons that pets get put up for adoption, and what you can do to help. They also have a neat section called The Adopt A Gram. I and Toby personally thought this was rather cool! You can send someone a virtual pet with a message. The Shelter Pet Project is a joint venture between The Humane Society of The United States,
The Ad Council, and Maddies Fund. The next time you are looking to find another best friend I would recommend this site.

Camp Super Bowl Party

It was a small group in Best Friends camp today, courtesy of our snowy Chicago weather. Still got some cute Super Bowl pictures.

Pet Boarding and Grooming Discounts

By now you have all seen the many discounts we offer to our Best Friends that stay with us. Our furry friends are always well worth every dollar we spend on them, however saving money is always nice! As Toby would say (think) the more money I save, the more money I have to spend on him! Below is a brief description of our Loyalty Program we offer here at Best Friends. This program currently just allows the discount in pet boarding and grooming. These are the two areas we see our Best Friends use on a regular basis, so it is easier to get the rewards!

You earn one free night of boarding after 20 paid nights of boarding. This free night can be redeemed at a later boarding stay.

After 7 paid grooming appointments you receive 50 percent off your 8Th visit.

Please visit the Best Friends site directly for more specific details.

For all of our new friends your first night of boarding is FREE! You also receive $10 off your first grooming service with us. Stop in today for a tour and to see why we should be your new best friend!

The Daily Coyote

This is a really neat site. It is literally what it is titled, The Daily Coyote. It is the life and times of a coyote named Charlie. Charlie lives in Wyoming with his human mom and a few furry friends. The blog chronicles Charlie's life and times. Charlie also has his own book. It is a great read, Toby and I have read it several times! Toby is trying to get me to write a story about his life and times. I have been trying to convince him, it just wouldn't sell. We would have 5 chapters about nothing but his fascination with Peanut Butter!

The Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet

Photo from Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VI. The puppy is Bandit, a 10 week old puppy.

For those of you who are not into watching the real Super Bowl, this will surely catch your attention! Animal Planet, The Puppy Bowl. From a video on the starting line up puppies, to the making of the stadium itself. This years videos and stories are just as cute as last year. Animal Planet has been hosting this event for a quite some time now. Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday whichever game you choose to watch! You know where Toby and I will be. He is rooting for the adorable Border Collie mix named Bandit. Go Bandit!

Fun Stuff Fridays...Chuck It

This week on Fun Stuff Fridays I will pass on the site for Chuck It Products. This company has some of Toby's favorite toys. We sell a lot of their toys here at Best Friends, so Toby is spoiled!
From a high flying ball launcher, to a really soft durable Frisbee. This place has everything. Now that spring is finally coming it is time to get some fun dog park kind of toys!

February Camp Calendar

2.8.10 Secret Love Valentine Project and Dessert

2.9.10 Pet Motel Super Bowl....Who's Your Favorite Team? $Dessert

2.10.10 Dental Month.. Show us Your Pearly Whites! $Dessert

2.12.10 Will You Be Mine? Gift Exchange

2.13.10 Valentine Social.. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!! 1-3pm Call for details.

2.15.10 Presidents Day... Elect The March Camper of the Month! $Dessert

2.16.10 Mardi Paws! $Dessert

2.17.10 Wild and Wacky Wednesday... Bubble Time in Camp

2.18.10 Furry Friend Day! Furry Friend Project

2.19.10 Simon Says... Best Listener Contest

2.22.10 Washington's Bday! Apple Project... $Dessert

2.23.10 Toy Day Tuesday... What is Your Favorite Toy? Will you be on the blog?

2.24.10 Spring Fling Project

2.25.10 Pick A Day Thursday.. Your day might be on the March Calendar!

2.26.10 Fishy Friday... Fish Project $ Dessert

Beagles Of Palatine Meet Up

Can you imagine our camp room filled with nothing but beagles, and an honary cocker spaniel! On Sunday the Palatine Beagle Meet Up had a play date in our camp room! It was a pretty exciting day for all of us.

February Camper of The Month

Kayla is our February Camper Of The Month! Kayla, how can we resist your charm. You are our little social butterfly, always making friends with everyone. We love you Kayla!