14 Valentine's Gifts for Dogs & Dog Lovers

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Feeling a little guilty about leaving your dog home alone after the holidays? We have some great ideas for you to spoil your furry best friend. 
Here are our favourite finds for this Valentine's Day 2018!

Flamingo Paradise (L) with Toucans on the back

The Flamingo Paradise pet bed by Indie Boho was designed with the Australian home in mind. The luxurious fabric provides dogs with cool comfort in summer, yet is soft for winter.

The bed cover is washable with an ultra-tough insert lining for dogs that are a little mischievous! The lining is moisture and sweat resistant to keep beds and pets free of fleas and smelling fresh.

Other trendy designs to complement your home décor include cacti, palms, foxes, feathers, kombis, skulls...  Available in 3 sizes.

RRP: from $64.95 (cover plus insert) at www.indieboho.com.au    

Your dog will look so dapper on Valentine’s Day you'll just have to take him out on a date, wearing his Macramé/Leather Dog Collar by Melbourne designer Sebastian Says. 

Uniquely crafted by artisans using 100% cotton cord, this dog collar has a touch of bohemian style. The collar only uses soluble vegetable leather dyes, resulting in a natural distressed look. 

The soft pink leather paired with natural macramé gives it a more feminine look. Available in 5 sizes and 7 colour combinations. 

RRP: $69.95 at www.sebastiansays.com.au

Your dog will love this gorgeous lightweight Summer Garden Sun Tee from Mr Soft Top.

Handmade in New Zealand with high quality Lycra, this is the perfect way to keep the summer rays off your pup’s skin and avoid sunburn. To make walkies a breeze in summer, simply wet down this top to cool down your dog. It is made from the same fabric as swimwear and is perfect for swimming or minimising itchiness from grass or sand. 

These adorable tees come in 4 sizes and are sure to melt a few hearts this Valentine’s Day!

RRP: $55.00 at www.lapdognation.com.au

Red Dingo Australia offers a huge range of great looking Pet ID Tags that include free personalised engraving and delivery. The tags are made of enamel on solid stainless steel tags so they will never rust or corrode.

For a bit of bling on Valentine’s Day, why not upgrade your pet's ID Tag selecting from their Glitterati range: Bone, Heart, Paw Prints or Dragonfly? Available in small (20mm), medium (30mm) and large (38mm) sizes.

RRP: from $17.50 at www.pawz.com.au

February is the month for puppy love and adventuring with your dog!

A Training & Hiking Leash by K9 All Terrain can help you combine these two loves. Featuring incredibly lightweight yet super-strong strapping, it will not break, rot or fade. 

It is also stink-proof, water-proof and wipes clean with ease. Made from flexible, 16mm wide strapping and you can choose fixtures from stainless steel or brass, this practical piece of gear is for anybody who wants to spoil their pup. You can also mix and match with a collar!

RRP: $40 at k9allterrain.com

The Duraspikes Wild Boar dog toy from GiGwi is made from extra durable cotton canvas and especially designed for tough chewers.

With added TPR spikes that have been moulded on to the extra durable cotton canvas, this toy is engaging and fun for dogs.

This durable dog toy (34cm x 19cm x 14cm) is great for playing fetch, or for your dog to thrash around the yard!

RRP: $36.95 from pawgie.com.au

Your dog can now step out to the dog park in style with this Go Fetch! Branch fetch toy by East Coast Pets! 

This eco-friendly designer piece is handmade in Nepal using 100% New Zealand wool so it's soft on your pup's muzzle and full of fun! 

Approximately 21cm length. Featured here in Pink, it is also available in Forest, Pistachio, Orange and Slate.

RRP: $20.95 at www.eastcoastpets.com.au

The Indian Pink Aggie Harness by Puppia features a modern “Hounds Tooth” pattern with contrasting edging and little silver hearts.

The lining is made from 100% natural cotton for the upmost comfort for your dog. This soft-padded harness has an adjustable chest belt with a quick release buckle making getting it on and off a breeze. The sturdy D-Ring at the back will enable you to attach a dog lead or car restraint. 

Available in 4 sizes, from XS to Large.

RRP: $43.00 at www.d4dogz.com.au

Your dog will be dressed to impress his Valentine wearing this Satin Tuxedo Costume complete with striking red bow tie from More Than Paws.

Or you could select a Tux-style black shirt, complete with pinstriped vest and checked bow tie! 

There are many more outfits to mark this special occasion like a Supergirl or Batgirl costume or a Princess Tee, with all outfits available in a wide range of sizes to suit most dog breeds.

RRP: from $36.95 at www.morethanpaws.com.au

Handmade in Western Australia, these doggy bows come with cute heart motifs in a range of delicious pastels.

Made to order so they can be designed to attach to a collar (as a bow tie/decorative bow) or as a clip for the top of the head.

These bows are designed to button over the collar so your dog will be ready for his Valentine's date in no time at all!

RRP: $15 at Westie Wear Dog Kilts  

The Torus Water Bowl (in pink of course!) stores up to 1L of water inside its thick reservoir walls which assists with maintaining water temperature. 

It comes with an activated carbon filter that removes any impurities, ensuring your pet has access to clean fresh water every time. Its large capacity means less filling and its low profile and rubber feet means fewer spills or mess.

Its best feature is the lock function which makes it the perfect travelling companion as you won’t spill any water.

RRP: $56.99 at www.petsofaustralia.com.au

The Modern Luxe by Harmony collection partners timeless neutrals with trendy rose gold accents, so you can share your impeccable sense of style with your furry friend. 

The Pet Throw features a pink knit texture on one side and gray fleece on the alternate side. It offers a protective covering for bedding, furniture, car interiors and more. The Pillow provides your pets with a supportive place to rest their weary heads.

RRP: $39.99 at www.petbarn.com.au and in stores nationally.

Celebrate Valentines’ Day with your loyal pup with a special treat (or two…or three) – a gift of carob chip cookies covered in unsweetened fondant.

These treats are lovingly made by The Doggie Bakery from the same fresh and healthy ingredients they use for their own dogs!

No need to battle the traffic and the summer heat to try and park in a tiny spot next to a pet boutique... 
Order online to have a number of these treats gift-wrapped and sent in time for Valentines’ Day!


RRP: $6.50 XOXO; $4.50 Large Heart; $6.50 3 Hearts at www.thedoggiebakery.net

We can all agree on this: life is just better with a dog by your side!

Proudly part of the “Tails of Australia” series, Tails of Perth features award-winning images by Perth Pet Photographer Claire Garrett. This project directly benefits pet rescue organisations with a percentage of the inclusion fee donated.

Whether you live in Perth or not, you will love browsing through this book featuring 75 of Perth’s most loved pups photographed in some of the oldest, coolest and most beautiful locations the sunset coast has to offer. A great present idea for any dog lover!

RRP: $49.00 from petography.com.au

We hope your pooches (and you) all get spoilt this Valentine's Day! 
They can send us a 'Thank You' card later ...

Paws Explores Forest Forage Adventure - February 18

Paws Explores are running a Forest Forage Adventure on Sunday 18th February (morning) in the stunning Dandenong Ranges.

This is an opportunity to explore beautiful wilderness with your canine bestie and meet like-minded dog lovers!

You will search for clues in the forest and complete challenges worth points in order to gain yummy treats for your best mate. Each pet participant will also receive a free doggy bag for completing this adventure.

For this Forest Forage Adventure, Paws Explores is proud to be supporting Starting Over Dog Rescue with 100% of profits donated to this dog charity/rescue group.

This course caters for all abilities so you can progress at your own pace. It is pram-friendly, however being located in the Hills, please be aware there will be a couple of short inclines/declines along the way.

So if you're up for a fun challenge with your dog in a stunning location, here are all the details...

When: Sunday 18th February 2018, from 9:30am to 12:00pm

Event Check in at 9:30am, briefing at 9:45am. Event concludes 12:00pm.

Where: Dandenong Ranges (specific location for participants only), near Melbourne, VIC.

For more information, please visit this Event’s Facebook Page.

For tickets, please click here

World's first app-controlled Pet Door

Pet products specialist Sure Petcare announced that the world’s first app-controlled pet door the Microchip Pet Door Connect is now available in Australia. Used with the “Sure Petcare” app, the Microchip Pet Door Connect allows pet owners to control the pet door remotely from a smartphone or tablet, as well as monitor their pets’ activity and habits.

Designed for small dogs and cats (the flap opening is 170mm H x 178mm W), the Microchip Pet Door Connect works via a “hub” device, which connects the pet door to the Internet. The pet owner is then able to control and monitor the comings and goings of their pets from the Sure Petcare app when they’re away from home.

Other smart features of the app include the ability to:

• Receive notifications via the app when their pet leaves or enters the house.
• Log and track their pets’ activity throughout the day. Historic data stored by the app can reveal changes in their pets’ behaviour or wellbeing. 
• Remotely lock or unlock the pet door anytime, anywhere. Owners can also set a curfew to keep their pets indoors at specified times during the day.
• Share access to the app with friends, family or pet sitters and manage their permissions.
• The pet door utilises microchip-reading technology meaning it only responds to the resident pet(s) microchip or RFID-collar tag ensuring unwanted animals are kept out. 

Dr Nick Hill, founder and CEO of Sure Petcare said: “Our aim is to develop great products that are useful, easy to use and make life easier for pet owners and their pets.

“With the development of any new product, we involve our customers from the beginning. Their feedback in the design and usability stages is crucial - it enables us to deliver something that is of value to them and their pets,” he said.

Jon Bowen, Royal Veterinary College vet and animal behaviourist said: “Smart devices have enabled people to connect with family, friends, work, their surroundings 24/7. With people generally working longer hours and being away from home, they want to connect with their pets too.

“For me, the real value lies in the data and ability to log and track a pet’s habits – something we’ve not been able to do until now. 

Over time, this information can provide an accurate insight into your pet’s wellbeing and help you determine what is “normal” behaviour for your pet and what is not.

“The Microchip Pet Door Connect is a game changer and will become an essential part of maintaining a happy, healthy pet," Jon said.

Price & Where to Buy

RRP: $240 for Microchip Pet Door Connect (includes Microchip Pet Door, SureFlap RFID collar tags and user guide); $75 for The Hub which can be purchased separately.

For more information, please visit www.surepetcare.com 

The Sure Petcare app is available for free download on the App Store (iOS 9 or later) and Google Play (Android 4.4 or later). 

About Sure Petcare

Sure Petcare, the pet technology specialist, provides pet products that empower owners to care for their pets in entirely new ways.

Founded in 2007, Sure Petcare has developed an award-winning range of microchip-operated pet doors and feeders including the Microchip Cat Door, the Microchip Pet Door, Microchip Pet Feeder and Sealed Pet Bowl which solve many problems commonly experienced by pet owners.

Sure Petcare products have been used by pet owners across the globe for almost ten years. The company sells direct, through retail, pet stores and leading veterinary practices in 35 countries.

MEDIA RELEASE 17/01/2018

Don't Give Up on your Challenging Dog!

"If you were to ask my family what a pivotal moment in our lives was, they would agree that it was the arrival of our dog, Luna" confides Birdy O'Sheedy from Paws in Life Coaching.

"Luna has a heart of gold, gives the best cuddles and is the most loyal companion you could wish for. We adore her and couldn’t imagine a life without her. However, let me tell you, there was a time in our lives when I considered giving up, and was even dreaming of a life without her. I’m ashamed to say it, but it’s the truth. Why? Because she did my head in!

She destroyed our home, due to her severe separation anxiety, she had food allergies and incontinence issues, and taking her for a walk felt like a special ops operation as she was very reactive towards other dogs. 

And after our neighbours house burned down, she also became reactive to humans! We were her third home, and for her to stay in our home we had to go through blood, sweat and tears in our behaviour modification training. 

Looking back two and a half years later, I realise that this dog taught me more in life than anyone else. And that means something, since I’m a clinical psychologist and professional dog nerd, who considers herself a workshop and self-development junkie. So why do I make such a bold statement, that owners of challenging dogs need to be BRAVE?

Why owners of a challenging dog need to be B.R.A.V.E 

You might have heard the saying, “You don’t get the dog you want, you get the dog that you need.” When my friend said this the first time, I rolled my eyes and walked away. However, there was a point in our behaviour modification training where I was the problem, not the dog, and it took a lot of courage and bravery to work on myself. 

I was holding Luna back from improving. She was happy to let go of all the difficult times and be in the present moment, but my difficult thoughts and anxiety stopped us from progressing.

I started to avoid going with her on walks, as I was paranoid and very anxious of running into an off-leash dog. I was miserable, and became very jealous of other dog owners and their “perfect” dogs. This wasn’t the life I had signed up for when I got a dog, and I resented Luna at the time. I cried a lot, and at one point even considered re-homing her.

Thankfully one day after a long conversation with a work colleague, the penny finally dropped: I needed to work on myself, before I could take Luna to the next level in our training. The journey with Luna had triggered some deep unhelpful beliefs and coping mechanisms in me, and I needed to work on them before I could help Luna. Why hadn’t I thought of this before? 

And that’s when the PACT model was born. It is designed to help the human at the end of the lead. 

I called it PACT, because every dog owner (consciously or unconsciously) makes a pact with their dog when they enter a relationship with it. The model doesn’t replace traditional dog training, but is viewed as an addition to help the dog owner. 

The PACT model is based on an evidence-based psychological framework, called “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” (ACT) Steven C. Hayes, Kelly G. Wilson, and Kirk Strosahl founded ACT in the 1980s, using cognitive-behavioural techniques and interventions. 

It is based on relational frame theory (RFT), a comprehensive theory for language and cognition that is an offshoot of behaviour analysis, which is a very popular therapy method in psychology and coaching. It aims to teach humans the necessary psychological skills to handle painful thoughts and feelings effectively, whilst being aware 
of what gives their life meaning and is important to them. 

As the PACT model is quite complex, and requires a few sessions to understand it, I’ve created this short formula especially designed for dog owners. I called it the B.R.A.V.E formula for everyday training sessions.

So what does this mean for you?

I highly recommend using mindfulness techniques, to help you stay present in your training session. Mindfulness is about training yourself to pay attention in a specific way. When a person is mindful they focus on the present moment, and try not to think about anything that occurred in the past, or that might happen in the future. Purposefully concentrate on what is happening around you and try to be open-minded and curious about things you notice (avoid labelling things as ‘good’ or ‘bad’).

I also encourage you to set goals that are really tailored to you and your dog’s needs. For instance, if you have a leash-reactive dog, taking your dog for a long walk from point A to B skips a lot of training steps in some cases. 

So make sure you go back to basics, ensuring you and your dog are a team who can communicate well and respectfully with each other. 

Have fun with each other and enjoy the things you are good at (e.g. Luna and I are experts in cuddling and love playing tug together). 

Whilst you are engaging in a behaviour modification program with you dog, it is important to accept, open up and make room for painful feelings, sensations, urges and emotions that go hand-in-hand with having to overcome challenges. 

It is important to know what your values are. Values give your life purpose and meaning, as they are like your moral compass. So remembering why you got a dog as a companion, think how you would like to manage difficult situations, and what type of person you would like to be when life is tricky.

Moreover, make sure that you keep a positive outlook, celebrate achievements and see an opportunity for personal growth in overcoming challenges. And, if you find you are struggling, please reach out. 
Are you curious to find out how this looks in real life? Well, then enjoy Helen's story.

Helen’s and her dog Sammy’s BRAVERY story

"Sometimes life will give you a dog that teaches you things you didn’t realise you needed, and having someone like Birdy can help you navigate your way through the people end of the leash as well as the canine end. 

How did I meet Birdy?

I’d been working with our local trainer, Katrina Diem from Think Canine Training & Behaviour in Toowomba, and also with Sharonika Williamson from Clear Canine in Brisbane, to help my rescue dog Sammy’s severe reactivity. There was great improvement in Sammy’s reactivity and these two trainers taught us a lot. 

However, there was still an issue at the other end of the leash and this was evident at the board and train changeover with Sharonika. It was an uncomfortable feeling realising I was part of the problem. While Sammy’s trainers tried to help me at my end of the leash, I was still struggling with being relaxed and trusting Sammy. One day Katrina mentioned Birdy’s Bravery Workshop and we haven’t looked back since. After the workshop I also signed up for some one-on-one coaching.

What did I get out of the post-workshop sessions?

After the workshop, Birdy and I worked on the PACT Model, which is a more in-depth version of the BRAVE formula. This has opened up a new world of feelings and emotions. It was really tough at first; still tough, but I’m learning! It would appear that every time I went out, I was carrying a number of additional leashes around with me, not just Sammy’s leash.

For instance, hypervigilance about the environment, catastrophizing and thinking about past events were constant walking companions. I realised that because of these leashes, I was not fully present with Sammy, and all Sammy wanted was to be with me and I wasn’t fully there for her. Acknowledging this was a start. 

We worked on interventions to address the issues, including working within both Sammy’s and my thresholds. I needed to manage my past negative experiences, unfairness, and dealing with irresponsible dog owners. We’ve also talked through interventions with the ‘accept’ part of the model. For example, I can’t control the environment: life happens! I realised that I needed to accept that I still have a buddy in Sammy, just not the buddy dog that I hoped for when we got Sammy.

What I hadn’t realised was that my self-esteem had taken a knock over this period. It appeared that I had little resilience to recover from life experiences, including Sammy sessions that didn’t go to plan. While I thought we were doing great with engagement, it would appear that Sammy and I hadn’t learnt to be part of a team. 

Birdy provided me with some resources to help me work on my self-esteem and we’ve been following up at our sessions. Learning to ‘accept’ that some days will not go as planned and being able to move on was a big thing. Also, it’s okay to stuff up; life isn’t perfect and sometimes neither are sessions with your dogs. I’m learning to be kinder to myself and lower my expectations.

I know that I work hard at everything but as Sammy was not a work project, I guess I worked even harder to try to help her, and was probably not as kind as I could be to myself. Learning to be more mindful and kinder to myself was easier said than done, but I’m learning. This also comes back to accepting various aspects of life, life with Sammy, and the universe.

Another shocking realisation was that, even though we love Sammy and I know Sammy loves us, our relationship was rocky. We could do engagement exercises quite successfully, but sometimes we didn’t have Sammy’s engagement. 

It appeared that trust on both our sides was not there. Off-leash dogs had attacked Sammy, so her trust was not there yet, and on the human side with all the leashes I was carrying, my trust in Sammy was not there. We really needed to strengthen the dog/human relationship. This is where Birdy also helped us with some mindful dog/human exercises.

What happened after these sessions?

I’m now a much happier person (didn’t know this was possible!) and am learning to be kinder to myself and building resilience when there is a reaction, things don’t go to plan or we lose engagement. I’m learning to accept that Sammy is not the dog that I’d hoped for; I can’t control the environment but Sammy is still my buddy and also my teacher. Sammy is teaching me the simpler things in life - in her little reactive way- to slow down, patience, resilience and just being present is okay. 

I've learnt that Sammy is always communicating with me, and I'm still learning how to listen. It's not all about thresholds but just being present, slowing down, accepting Sammy for the beautiful girl she is and learning to be kinder to myself. 

The benefits of these sessions are that you learn so much about yourself and how past and present things can affect the relationship with your dog. Building the human/dog relationship is the most important thing you can do with your dog. This takes time, and don’t think you can make it part of a schedule or a project plan. Listen and just spend time with your dog, engage with them. Be kind to yourself and invest in your PACT model.

About Birdy O’Sheedy

Birdy (Birgit) O'Sheedy is a clinical psychologist, dog-nerd and life coach who runs Paws in Life Coaching in Sydney. 

She has completed the NDTF (National Dog Trainers Federation) course with a focus on companion animals. Her strength as a coach is to help you deepen your bond with your dog and to improve your overall wellbeing and mind space.

If you want to get a free grounding exercise to help you cope with your nerves on your walks and enjoy them again, sign up here for the free Bravery Newsletter and this innovative exercise will land in your inbox.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/PawsInLife/

Win a Bone-Shaped Dog Pool - Competition

Is there a bone-shaped dog pool hole in your life?
If you've been sweltering this summer, spare a thought for your dog(s)! We all love a splash in the pool on hot days but it wouldn't it be nice not to have to share yours? If you said yes, you're in luck because we teamed up with the team at Dog Pools for your chance to win: 

* 1 x bone-shaped Dog Pool valued at $445*  

This dog pool is chew and UV resistant! It is very hard-wearing yet only weighs 4kg. It will hold up to 321 litres of water when filled to the top and stay cool in the summertime!
(the winner can choose from White/Sand/Blue/Pink).

To Enter, Like and Share our post on Facebook or Instagram (27/01/2018) and simply comment by telling us "why does your dog need this awsome bone-shaped Dog Pool AND which colour would you choose?"
*Total Prize Pool is $445 (this excludes freight costs to winner's address).

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. This Competition will close on Friday 02/02/2018 (2pm).
The winners will be drawn and announced on Saturday 3rd February, 2018.

2. To enter, like and share and simply comment by telling us "why does your dog need this pawsome bone-shaped dog pool AND which colour would you choose"?

3. This Promotion is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner.

The entries will be judged by the Australian Dog Lover team. The winning entries will be selected based on the most creative, informative or useful statement.

4. Please note you MUST LIKE our Facebook page or FOLLOW @australiandoglover on Instagram to be eligible.

5. Entrants in the competition can only enter once.

6. Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be redrawn.

* Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of all terms and conditions.