happy feet

nope, i'm not talking about dancing penguins this afternoon. instead, since the focus of the earlier post was on shoes for animals, more specifically dogs, this post will continue looking at shoes but for the humans. this time round, we will be looking at animal shoes! this is going to be one of those image-intensive posts. you have been warned!

for the ladies...

shoes by Iris Schieferstein

heels from Dior

dog shoe by Kobi Levi

now onto the gentlemen...

Volta Men's animal print boot

image from followpics

add style and height!

last but not least for the courageous!

taken from designswan

fash'on... BAM!

paws' pal

from clothes to 'hair', accessories and now to shoes! doggy shoes, boots and booties are becoming the latest in a long line of popular doggy apparel accessories. in winter temperatures (unlike tropical singapore), frozen sidewalks and snowfall on the way, many pet owners are contemplating protecting their canine’s paws with a snug pair of booties – but do dogs really need shoes?

image from famecrawler

it turns out that in many cases dogs really do benefit from protective paw wear, and in other instances dog shoes can provide an extra layer of comfort and safety. but it takes a special kind of dog shoe to conform to the movements of a dog’s paw, and some types of shoes can actually limit your dog’s ability to walk or run.

while dog shoes provide protection against frost bite, scrapes and cuts caused by sharp ice during extreme winter sports, they can also protect the paws of our everyday canine friends too. dog shoes can offer an extra layer of support and safety. during extreme hot or cold temperatures, dog shoes can protect paw pads from frostbite in the winter and burns from hot asphalt in the summer. dog shoes with traction bottoms can help dogs with mobility problems. 

picture from the full moxie

no slip dog shoes can be especially beneficial for senior dogs with arthritis or hip dysplasia when walking on slippery or frozen surfaces. for dogs that enjoy swimming, dog shoes can help to protect paw pads from cuts or scrapes caused by contact with underwater rocks or sharp objects. risks for accidental scrapes or paw pad tears during short or long hikes can be reduced with protective dog booties. dogs who have nerve damage in their legs or backs which cause hind legs to drag can benefit from protective booties. the booties in these cases can prevent scrapes and tears on the tops of the paws if paws drag a bit while the dog is walking.

courtesy of dogcentral

the best types of dog shoes are shoes which conform to the shape of the paw and which allow regular paw movement. these dog shoes look a lot like slip-on covers, and they often come with Velcro straps at the top. dog shoes to avoid are the types of shoes which are created to look just like people shoes. these stiff shoes may look adorable on dogs, but dogs cannot walk well in them and may even end up hurting themselves. if you choose dog shoes for your dog, make sure they are a comfortable fit which facilitates the full mobility of the paws – and that the tops of the shoes are secure but not too tight.

as for the cat owners, i'm sorry to disappoint you but seems like most owners are not for the idea of puss-in-boots. 

Puss-in-Boots!

maybe this is acceptable?

Puss in a Boot?

this forum is just one of the many that oppose to cat shoes.

fash'on... BAM!

furry's finest

for the greater part of today, we've discussed about whether pets should or should not be dressed up and if their coats should be coloured. the ownership of a pet is a lifetime commitment. a pet is not a toy that you can put the switch button to off. in 2010 alone, overall spending of the states in the pet industry grew by 6.2 percent from $45.53 billion in 2009 to $48.35 billion in 2010. in canada, the average dog owner claims to spend over $1800 annually on each dog while the average cat owner spends around $1400 on each cat. this covers food, treats, vet, meds, litter, grooming, toys and other paraphernalia.

if you have more cash to part with, here are some of the finest accessories that you can buy for your pets.

Swarovski-studded Bathtub

in 2011, luxury goods designer lori gardner introduced extremely dazzling bathtub studded with 44,928 rose pink swarovski crystals. to continue this collection she created a mini-version of the tube adapted for your little poo. swarovski-studded dog bathtub allows your pet splashing in the lap of luxury. It comes with rose pink swarovski crystals placed by hand which probably took countless hours. the price is about $4000.

collar by Jeune Cheri

fancy a new pet collar? this one by jeune cheri retails at $280,000.

Hello Kitty doghouse

looking for unusual or unexpected luxury doghouse? this luxury doghouse was created in 2007 for a sales event at a department store in tokyo in collaboration with a maker of high-end pet goods. the doghouse is large enough for a chihuahua or terrier and is decorated with 7600 crystal beads and has a pillow in the shape of hello kitty’s face. this hello kitty doghouse will be available for you if you have over $30,000 to spare.

Tiara by Riwin Jirapolsek

it seems the world’s designers don’t feel financial crisis. in 2009, young thai jewellery designer riwin jirapolsek shocked the world by creating $4.2 million diamond tiara for his 15 year-old dog. it was shown to the audience during bangkok dog fashion show last week. the expensive pet tiara was created from titanium and decorated by more than 100 carats of diamonds and 153 carats of emeralds. to make such expensive dog tiara he used precious stones given to him by his mother. it took him two months to finish. the designer has no plans to sell this luxury tiara, he created it specially for kanune, his maltese pet.

the Amour Amour dog collar

finally, if you have $3.2 million, you can also buy the amour amour dog collar. it weighs in at 52 carats and is encrusted with 1,600 diamonds.

fash'on... BAM!

furry's fur

arguments about whether it is right or wrong to use pet dye abound, but the real issue is your pet's wellbeing. colourful pets are now news around the world: an escaped pink house cat is found wandering through a neighborhood in england; pets in china are sporting exotic panda or tiger pelts; colorful poodles are parading up and down hollywood boulevard.

Panda Dog

Alessandra Ambrosio with her pet pooch

without a doubt, the pet dye fad is flourishing - but is it really okay to dye your pet? is morally right or wrong to dye a pet? some pet owners feel that animals should be appreciated for their natural beauty or that people do not have the right to change a pet's appearance. others see nothing wrong with changing the color of a pet's coat. whatever your stance may be, here are some notes to take about dyeing furry's fur.

Pika-Mew

safety first: will your pet be harmed if you color his / her coat? the answer is... possibly. it is possible for your pet to be physically harmed from exposure to pet dyes and the dyeing process can be stressful for your pet. owners who wish to dye their pets need to consider that a pet's coat covers the entire body - it isn't the same as dyeing just the hair on your own head. any ingredients in the pet dye will be absorbed by the skin and two major issues are associated with the use of pet dye.

image from dogguide

the first issue is that pet dyes are relatively new. no long-term studies have been performed to determine if pet dyes are really safe for pets - especially if the animal is repeatedly exposed. secondly, pets can develop an allergic reaction to dyes. even mild food-colouring-based dyes can cause an allergic reaction, particularly in cats that will lick and ingest the dye while they groom. some pets should never be dyed. exotic pets including gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and chinchillas can develop serious health issues, ranging from respiratory infections to pneumonia, if they are dyed. pets that are difficult to bathe or who have any existing health problems should never be dyed either.

the Skele-Cat

with these considerations in mind, if you still want to dye your dog or cat's coat, it is best to use the services of a pet groomer who has experience using non-toxic pet dyes. always start out small; never dye your pet's entire coat on the first try, until you know how your pet's skin will react. if you choose to dye your pet at home, always purchase the dye from a groomer who offers dye services for pets. never use human hair colourants on pets. the chemicals in these products are extremely hazardous and may even be lethal. avoid using homemade dye recipes you may find on the internet as well; they may contain ingredients that are harmful to your pet.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Doodle

whether you choose to dye your pet at home or at the groomer's, take note of your pet's response to the process. never attempt to dye your pet's coat again if your pet becomes stressed from an application or if your pet experiences an allergic reaction such as itchy or irritated skin.If your pet develops any serious reactions to dye such as nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea - see a veterinarian immediately. last but not least, until more research has been performed on the long term effects of dyes on pets, keep the applications to a minimum.

fash'on... BAM!

furry's fit

do you recall the time when you saw a picture of someone's pet dressed not as a pet? what was your first reaction? did you gush and download or share the image? if you are a pet owner, what are some tips to take note of if you are going to dress your pet up? i managed to get an expert from the animal kingdom to help me on this...

image from whatthecool

pet retail experts estimate that americans will spend a record $370 million this year to dress up their pets for Halloween. according to the national retail federation, the sale of pet costumes is one of the single largest categories that contributes to making halloween such a big holiday from a retail perspective.

picture from i-mockery

no matter how cute you think boxer looks in his pirate costume, most pets don’t like the constraints of costumes. do experiment to see how your pet reacts to being in a costume. here are some things to consider before dressing your pet up and bringing them out for the day:

1) avoid costumes with accessories your pets can eat. costumes with a lot of buttons, buttons, or bits that easily be pulled off or get snagged could be dangerous for your pet. especially if your pet is going to get antsy and start attacking the costume they’re wearing.

picture from 103.7 Lite FM

2) make sure it’s a comfortable costume. you have your comfort and tolerance levels with your own fashion. so do your pets. they are less inclined to suffer an uncomfortable costume.

taken from venganza

3) ensure the costume doesn’t impede your pet’s ability to walk and/or see. this falls back into comfort. If you pet can’t walk or see, there’s a greater chance they will try to remove the offending costume. hence if you have problems walking in a straight line wearing a patch over your eye, chances are that your pet is not too happy going around as batman.

image from gatewaypets

4) go slow and be liberal with the treats. most pets are used to running around in the covering god gave them, so they might be resistant to the hotdog costume you’re trying to put on them. give them treats after getting a paw in a sleeve or the zipper up a little. treats will make costuming a happy experience for your pets.

graphic from zujava

5) do not cross-dress your pets. i find it distasteful when pets are made to cross-dress so that we humans can have a laugh. it is not funny. 

fash'on... BAM!