Top selling dog toys.

At Woofles and Meowz we don't have alot of room to carry stuff that does not move. As one of Vancouver's first pet Boutiques and the first bakery for dogs in town we utilyze a wonderful old CP Rail caboose. This makes for space being a premium to say the least and it gives me a huge incentive to only have the best of the best and the most popular items I can find to maximize the merchandising options. If something does not move in this store, it is out!
One of the most often asked questions is "what is the most popular toys that you sell?"
I usually follow up with "what kind of dog do you have and what age is it presently?"
This makes, obviously, a big difference in what is "popular".
For big dog breeds the MOST popular toy we carry is "The Scrambler" an egg shaped toy mentioned in an earlier blog.
For medium sized dogs that are quite active and love to retrieve we have a super cool slingshot from "Hyperdog" in two sizes that will throw a ball 150-220 feet depending on the size....GREAT for those hyper dogs who love to chase.
For the active player/chewer we carry the firehose toys and one of my favourites called "Egg babies"..a cute and yet slightly macabre toy that has a plush toy with an opening that the dog can dig out squeeking eggs.....cute and saves the toy from being shredded..at least that is the theory. Remember. <<>>
and we proudly display that sign in the store

Cat harnesses and clothes....why bother?!?

At Woofles and Meowz we spend alot of time chatting with other trainers, handlers and owners of dogs but the only interaction I have with Cat owners is to listen to what they like in the way of treats, equipment and toys so I can order for my store. In fact all the stock in my store for Cats is requested by my regulars who have 100% say in what I bring in. It makes my job a wee bit easier.
The oft asked question I get on one piece of equipment for cats is.."will my cat wear this?"
I always respond half jokingly........"what do YOU think?"
This usually gets the answer most people were looking for as the REAL question in the query is "will my cat take off my skin if I try to cram him into this $60.00 sweater and can you tell me that he will wear it having never seen my cat so to support my intent to torment my feline into wearing something even for the 5 minutes it will take to get the picture"
.....pretty much the truth in that.
"what do YOU think" always settles the matter.
This also goes for people who want to put Fluffy in a harness and go for a walk. Some will find it ok and most will not. The trick for harnesses is to put them on when they are kittens. It always seems far too foreign for older cats.
Bless all the little kitties in their own furry sweaters.
meowwwrrrrwwrwrw!

Dog life jackets.

Last year I was told a GREAT story from a family that was purchasing a life jacket for their dog.
The dog being a pug was in sorry shape for cutting through the water being the dense body type it was.....and no don't send me emails saying "all dogs can swim and pugs are great swimmers". I know all dogs CAN swim but some are better at it than others and some are actually really poor swimmers in the water.....pugs, boston terriers, boxers....bulldogs are bricks in the water!!
So, the story goes that a gentleman and his dog head off from Horseshoe Bay here near Vancouver to their home on Bowen Island in their sailboat. This was a crossing that the well seasoned boater had made several times with his dog and was well known by the locals both on Bowen and at Horseshoe bay. He was and is a good boater and a sensible one who with some foresight put a lifejacket on his Labradore Retriever (GREAT swimmers). Heading west to Bowen the boat listed enough that with a silent splash unloaded a probably relaxed dog from the deck into the water. The boat carried on and one can only assume that the boater was either below for a moment or looking the other way. The dog finding itself closer to the dock at Horseshoe Bay headed that way.
As the boat came into harbour the baiter received a call on his cell "hey did you lose anything?"
"Ummmm no...did I leave the fenders down?" A typical jab at boaters from other salty dogs is the fender jab.....never leave the floats flopping along in the water while sailing...very lazy and tacky.
"Yeah, nooo yer dog just swam, barely back up to the deck here and is having a snack" said the caller. "We watched him swim from far off in the distance thinking it was a seal and saw him exhaustedly just float the last quarter mile in"
Needless to say the owner of the dog was surprised and embarrassed but happy that the dog was indeed safe and only due to the bouyancy of the floatation device did the dog survive.
Yes, dogs are great swimmers but like any animal not born to the water heat loss, exhaustion and disorientation are all factors in an easy trip to the bottom. This Lab had all but stopped moving and the wash from the ferry had pushed it the last bit towards the shore while the lifejacket kept its head above the water line.
The best part of the story is, of course, the dog lived and indeed I had sold the lifejacket to the dog's owner not 3 weeks before the event. I knew who they were talking about and let them spill the story. Admittedly each time I hear it the tale gets a bit more heroic but in the end the equipment worked!
Super WOOF!!!

Dog Bakery ...is it necessary??

At Woofles and Meowz we are hard pressed to keep up with the manufacturing. It is the best problem to have trying to do all the baking that our four footed friends seem to desire and need.
Some people might ask..."NEED"?!?? The truth is a little more complicated than a smple yes or no. Does a dog NEED an organic, hand made treat with ingredients that most average people do not ingest? The simple answer is sometimes.
Sometimes the animal has developed internal problems that require dietary restrictions of certain ingredients.
Sometimes having a place that actually makes the recipes IN HOUSE lets people know what is in the treats.
Most times department store or grocery store brands are full of fillers (acceptable or not) whereas ours are not.
Sometimes people just want to be sure that what they are giving their pet will not make them barf at 3 in the morning.
Sometimes a well made treat with probiotics and/or good ingredients can add a healing component to the dog's diet.
Sometimes people just want a pretty, cute, well made, tasty looking, good for the pooch treat.
Most times it is really hard to find that elsewhere.

Organic cheeses, Lamb, chicken, vegetables etc are really NOT that more expensive to buy so I do and am happy to use them in our recipes.
Good stuff passed on to you and your dog and/or Cat in the case of our Signature Sardines (TM) and Shaved Smokin Tuna (TM).............mmmmmmm YUMMY!!!

woof!

Pet safety..keeping your dog and cat safe.

We have all heard the stories of the dog that was left in a car without adequate ventelation or the cat locked in the metal shed in the intense heat and the prevention of such scenes seems pretty easy to implement. Even easier than that is the simple remembering of water.
Last weekend we were riding on a warm, sunny day out at the Iona spit near the airport here in Vancouver and we came across a gentleman with his dog that looked like a cross between a Corgi and a small Shepherd. Lots of fur and short legs on the trip out to the end of the spit (which is 4 kilometers long) saw to it that the dog was pooped and panting to the point of alarm...and there was still the 4 kilometers back. The distance did not seem to daunting for the owner or us who were lucky to have bikes but the dog was seriously in need of some relief. Lucky for me I have a thoughtful partner who after asking if it was ok gave the dog a drink from his water bottle (so thinking this man IS, I have to say)
It seemed like a simple thing but the truth is that all animals need some water on a hot day. We carry at Woofles and Meowz a great selection of water bottles that make it super easy for Fido to have a wee drink when in need............simple right?!??

Green pet toys and treats at Woofles and Meowz.

Lately I have been asked the question "is this product made locally?" or "is this organic?".
I have seen, heard and felt the change in the market with regard to people wanting sustainable products.
Being a manufacturer of products as well as an owner of a pet boutique I have made it my special interest to buy from local producers, small companies that use organic ingredients, buy organic ingredients to make our famous treats and employ local producers as best as possible.
Right now Woofles and Meows is a store that carries at least 50% locally or Canadian content...which.........is REALLY hard to do let me tell you.
Now, do not get me wrong. I am no tree hugging fanatic bent on wearing rough woven clothes and never touching anything plastic.....I just believe that we can do as much as we can faced with the choice to do so if it is available. That is the tipping point for me.....if I have the choice between a regular bag or a biodegradeable one even if it is twice the cost (for now) I will go for the "green" option. I think my customers really appreciate that fact.
I KNOW that the organic nature of our biscuits is very much a selling point for many folks here so it makes sense that other avenues are safe to follow.
I have been diligent though in fact finding in what is actually green. Everybody is jumping on the bandwagon to get that dollar out of your pocket and into their till and being "ECO friendly" seems to be the way to go and makes for brilliant marketing. This is unfortunatley where people simply see that something is sustainable and go with the flow without finding the 5Ws of it.
My recent experiences go like this:
Yes that recycled paper from London Drugs is good...but it comes from Brazil so it took resources and oil to get it all the way here....so not good in the long run.
That pretty Japanese pastry is organic but it is wrapped in a plastic container with a plastic label then put into a paper then a bag......soooo not good in the long run.
My oven cleaner is supposedly CFC free! and that should make us want and need it right? well CFC were banned decades ago and so it is a moot point...though we all feel better regardless huh!
Lets not get all crazy on ourselves and jump on the martyr train but I am gonna do MY part by reducing packaging when I can here in the store and buy locally as much as possible and make good things with good ingredients.
There is also a great website you can check out .. www.ethiquette.ca They seem to have some good info...and thats a start right?!??
cheers,
MEOW!!!!

Spaying and neutering your animals.

Recently I was reading in the "Bark" magazine that the BCSPCA puts out and it was explaining some reasons and facts on animal reproduction.
I particularly like the simple math equation that says :
At two litters a year and six kittens per litter an unspayed cat can produce in seven years....wait for it......420,000 cats!!!
I am all for taking care of your animals and if still undecided there are a few question and answers that the American humane society was very happy to answer:

WHAT IS IT??
Spaying is a general term used to describe the ovariohysterectomy of a female animal. Neutering is a general term used to describe the castration of a male animal. However, neutering is used in reference to both genders. The surgical procedure, performed by a veterinarian, renders the animal incapable of reproducing. Here are answers to some questions you may have about this beneficial procedure.
When can I have this procedure done?
Both procedures can be performed as early as six weeks of age. American Humane is a strong proponet of "early" neutering since this guarantees that the animals will not be able to breed and populate within a community.
Why should I have my pet neutered?
Animal shelters, both public and private, unfortunately are faced with an incredible burden: What to do with the overpopulation of dogs and cats that they cannot find homes for. Estimates across the country indicate that over 10 million animals will be humanely euthanized at shelters each year, due to the sheer fact that there are not enough homes. Having your pet neutered ensures that you will not be adding to this tremendous burden.
What are some of the health benefits?
Through neutering, you can help your dog and cat live a happier, healthier, and longer life. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing that is a sign that a cat is in heat. Castration stops the mating drive in males, reducing the urge to roam, which in turn, reduces the risk of fights, injury, poisoning, accidents, and contracting diseases. If you have more than one pet in your household, all the pets will get along better if they are neutered.
A long-term benefit of neutering is improved health. Early neutering nearly eliminates breast cancer, and totally prevents uterine infections and uterine and testicular cancer.
Isn't it true that you only need to "fix" female dogs or cats?
Absolutely not! A male animal can father thousands of offspring in his lifetime. Roaming tomcats fighting other cats are a neighborhood nuisance and are prone to develop infections and abscesses from their fighting. An intact male may also develop the bad habit of marking its territory by urine marking.
Neutering just costs too much!
The cost of caring for a pet, including providing veterinary care, should be considered before acquiring an animal. If you would like to provide a good home for a pet, but cannot pay for the neuter, call your local animal shelter. They will be happy to provide information on low-cost neutering. The costs of having a litter are often more than the cost of neutering. There could be complications requiring hospitalization or surgery. You will be faced with finding homes or keeping the offspring yourself or placing more animals into your local shelter. The cost of the well-being of not just your companion animal but of future generations should be considered.
Can't I allow my purebred dog to have just one litter?
Mixed breed or purebred -- there just aren't enough homes. Animal shelters receive purebred animals everyday. Responsible purebred breeders have homes for their dogs before they are born.
I don't even own a pet! Why is this my problem?
All of us are affected by animal overpopulation. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to round up lost, abandoned, and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to destroy these animals when homes cannot be found. Health is threatened by the danger of transmittable diseases, including rabies, animal bites, and attacks. Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food. Animal waste, proving a serious environment hazard, foul yards and parks. It is only when all of us assume the responsibility for pet overpopulation that we will see any decrease in the problem.
Isn't it wrong to deprive an animal of the natural right to reproduce?
No, it's wrong to allow these animals to reproduce millions of unwanted offspring that are eventually killed because there aren't enough responsible homes.
If I find homes for my pets' litters then I won't contribute to the problem, right?
Wrong. Only a certain number of people want pets. So every home you find for your pet's offspring takes away a home from a loving animal already at a shelter.
Shouldn't every female pet have at least one litter before being spayed?
No. In fact, your pet will be healthier if she never sexually matures. Her personality will not improve either. She is just as likely to become less social and more aggressive after having a litter, as she is to become calmer and gentler.
Shouldn't children experience the miracle of birth?
No. A more important lesson to teach your child would be responsible pet ownership and concern for life by explaining why their pet should not have babies.
Doesn't neutering alter an animal's personality?
No. Personality changes that may result from neutering are for the better. Not being distracted by the instinctual need to find a mate helps your pet stop roaming and become calmer; though not less protective of their territory.
Won't animal shelters take care of the surplus animals?
No. Shelters do their best to place animals in loving homes, but the number of homeless animals far exceeds the number of available homes. This leaves many loving and healthy animals in our community that must be euthanized as the only humane solution to this tragic dilemma. Only spaying and neutering can end the overpopulation problem.

I think there are probably many more questions but if in need please feel free to contact your local SPCA.

WOOF!!!!