New Pet Products Make Ideal Holiday Gifts

by Steve Dale

According to the American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 52 percent of dog owners and 39 percent of cat owners bought holiday gifts for their pets. This season, with the economy still weak, will that generosity fade?

"Everyone's holding their breath, but I think it will be a good year," says Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. "Last year, we started the holiday pet shopping season slow but finished OK. This year. I think perhaps some are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."

Still, you can't help but wonder if people will be more inclined to offer a cat an empty box to play with, or a gift-wrap a used tennis ball for the dog.

"What matters most is that we give our pets something, it's how we feel about the pets and how we so much enjoy showing them our love," says Vetere.

The craze this October at the H.H. Backer 45th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference in Rosemont, IL, in October, was all natural and organic, and made-in-the-U.S.A food and treats.

"Look around this room. I bet most of them (attendees) don't shop and pay for organic products for themselves, yet they will for their pets," said one exhibitor.

Certainly, there are more gift choices than ever. Here are a few examples:

-- Buddy Biscuits from Cloud Star were among the first popular all natural, made-in-the-U.S.A. products using all human-grade ingredients, including many products for dogs with allergies. Dog trainers asked Cloud Star to create a product to motivate dogs and keep them healthy, too. Soft and Chewy Tricky Trainers are now available in lamb, duck and sweet potato flavors; $5.96. Buy them at most pet stores, www.cloudstar.com, or call 800-361-9079.

-- Bell Rock Growers are about being natural, organic and made in the U.S.A, (or Canada), and all about wheat grass. At this company, the motto is: "A pound of wheat grass equals 23 pounds of veggies and nutrition." Wheat grass, a popular supplement in our smoothies, is good for pets for the same reason -- it contains lots of chlorophyll, antioxidant vitamins, minerals and fiber. All new are Pet Greens Dog Biscuits and Pet Greens Cat Treats. Each has plenty of wheat grass; $3.99 to $11.99, at boutique pet stores, www.bellrockgrowers.com; or call 888-943-2847.

-- Not everything has to be healthy; we eat cupcakes, and so can our pets. A cupcake mix called Celebration Cupcakes, with six reusable silicone molds, is $9.99 to $14.99 at Barker and Meowsky, www.barkerandmeowsky.com; or call 773-268-0200.

-- If you've ever been in a baseball batting cage, you know the balls keep on coming at you. Well, here's the same sort of thing for your dog: The GoDogGo is a tennis ball launcher for playing fetch. The machine can do the work, launching ball after ball automatically, or you can lounge in an easy chair and use the remote control launcher. Depending on your dog's size, athletic ability and the space you're in, adjust the launching distance from 15 to 30 feet; $119, www.activedogtoys.com; 877-4-DOG-TOY.

-- After chasing a ball for hours, cooling down on a Cool Pet Pad is a good idea. This product is also ideal for senior pets, and sometimes pets undergoing medical therapies; simply lying on a cool pad can feel good. The pad is self-cooling, with no need for electricity or refrigeration; $19.99 from www.greenpetshop.com; 773-383-47421.

-- Perhaps the most celebrated dog toys on the planet are Kong toys. Now, there's a giant Kong on steroids called the Wobbler. You pour kibble into this spherical hard plastic toy and the dog pushes the ball so it wobbles and the food falls out; $18.99, available at most pet stores and online.

-- The famed Talk to Me Treatball has been redesigned to entertain your dog when you're not home. As the pet rolls the hard rubber ball around (so kibble or treats tumble out), it can hear your sweet voice in an audio message recorded earlier; $16.99 to $18.99, where pet products are sold and online.

-- Monster Squeaky toys look as if they could be Muppet characters. These surprisingly soft monsters are smiling as much as your dog will be; $13.50, www.barkerandmeowsky.com; 773-268-0200.

-- Dr. Jane Doe is a rope dog toy in the shape of a deer. This reasonably sturdy toy is $16 at, www.barkerandmeowsky.com; 773-268-0200.

-- The Canadian Cat Cabin, a prefab home for cats, is made of cardboard and easy to assemble; $25.95. Please pay in full so there's no chance for foreclosure - www.barkerandmeowsky.com; 773-286-0200.

-- The latest in the Loppie toy series, Red Nosed Reindeer Loopie, plays the tune "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" when squeezed; $14.95, www.barkerandmeowsky.com; 773-268-0200.

Available at Amazon.com:

Christmas with Tucker

A Dog Named Christmas

What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love and Healing from a Small Pooch

Saving Cinnamon: The Amazing True Story of a Missing Military Puppy and the Desperate Mission to Bring Her Home

Dogs and the Women Who Love Them: Extraordinary True Stories of Loyalty, Healing, and Inspiration

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat

Dog Walks Man: A Six-Legged Odyssey

The Cat Lover's Book of Days: A Year of Cat History, Lore, and Laughter

GoD and DoG

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat

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