Carolina Mountain Dog

"Dog Show" at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville

A most unusual exhibit is being held at one of Asheville's finest art galleries, Blue Spiral 1, located at 38 Biltmore Avenue. Called "Dog Show," the exhibit features paintings, prints, fiber and whimsical objects in glass, metal, clay and mixed media, all of which celebrate dogs.

Fifteen artists were invited to create playful works and the results are striking, to say the least. Blue Spiral 1 is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM - 6 PM and Noon to 5 PM Sunday. The exhibit runs through February 25. For additional information and to see samples of the work, visit the gallery's website: www.bluespiral1.com .

Shown: Puppies by Melanie Eberhardt, Gouache on paper

ReTail Scene: Patton Avenue Pet Company, Asheville

How many pet stores have a friendly, inviting front porch with a rocking chair, a huge pet mural in the parking lot, and a bark mulched dog park in the back, complete with red hydrant?

That's what you'll find at the new Patton Avenue Pet Company, 1388 Patton Avenue (near Haywood Road) in Asheville. This new breed of locally-owned pet supply store aims to be a resource center for Asheville's pet loving community, says owner/animal lover Jenna Yarosh (shown in photo with Penelope, one of her three dogs). Of course, pets are welcome inside, but dogs will find their own little piece of heaven in the fenced-in dog park at the rear of the store, which is located in a brightly painted house. The dog park has a little "pee garden" with a fire hydrant, dog toys, a bench for humans, and plenty of space for some off-leash play.

Inside the store, you'll find a complete assortment of top-notch nutritionally appropriate pet food, free of meat byproducts, artificial coloring, additives and perservatives, and with a minimum of fillers. Also on hand is a wide range of supplies, accessories, treats and other pet products. Some of these products, such as the line of pet potions from GoodJudy, are available exclusively at the store. Patton Avenue Pet Company even imports humanely sourced moose antlers -- known to be the best chew sticks for dogs -- directly from Alaska, so you can get them at a great price.

The store offers a companion animal lending library which sits over a cozy fireplace, actively seeks products from local community sources, and will periodically hold training classes and adoption events. Artwork from local artists graces the exterior and interior. The store's hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM (closed Monday). Visit http://www.pattonavenuepet.com/ or call (828) 505-8299 for more information.

Grand Opening on January 14
Stop by with your pets for the store's Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, January 14 from 12 to 4 PM. There'll be free samples, free nail trims, free behavioral and nutritional consulting, and a contest.

New Year, New Advertisers

We're pleased to welcome several new local advertisers as we begin 2012. You'll see their ads to the right of blog posts under the heading, "SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS." And we hope you will do just that -- show them your support! Just click on each ad and you'll be taken to the advertiser's website. Here is a little about them:
Patton Avenue Pet Company
A "new breed of pet supply store" in Asheville that features high quality products, many of which are locally sourced.
Bed and Biscuit Pet Spa
WNC's premier dog and cat boarding facility, in an idyllic setting in Black Mountain.
Best Bites for Pets
A free delivery service for the Asheville/Hendersonville/Brevard area focused on only natural food, treats and more.

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

ReTail Scene: Better Buddies

A new start-up that features pet beds has a mission: to promote adoption. Better Buddies, Inc. will not only sell products, the company has also launched "Project Paw," an umbrella for  social programs directed at educating the public on the merits of adoption. Through its first initiative, the Guardian Angel Project, Better Buddies pledges to donate 10 percent of profits to Best Friends Animal Society, one of the nation's leading animal shelters and advocates for "no more homeless pets."

Better Buddies was launched by Julie Marie Berman, an actress who plays 'Lulu' on the television show, General Hopsital, and her husband Mike Grady. The company's focus will be on making products that are well-designed, stylish and of high quality while adhering to "green" ecologically conscious standards. "Our goal," according to the founders,"is to make our products attractive vehicles that help push positive social and environmental change."

Better Buddies currently offers donut beds, pillow beds and bedrolls and will be expanding its product line over time. For more information, visit their website: http://www.betterbuddies.com/

ReTail Scene: Lucky Dog Delivers Opens Woodfin Store

Lucky Dog Delivers, an Asheville area pet store on wheels, has settled down and opened up a shop in Woodfin. Still delivering holistic and natural pet foods to pet lovers in and around Asheville, their healthy foods and eco-friendly products are now also available at the new shop at 175 Weaverville Highway, Woodfin.

Deane Giordano, owner of Lucky Dog Delivers Holistic Pet Supplies, says she hopes to use the new venue for puppy socialization hours, free nutritional consultations, a library of pet health information, pet adioption events, in-store fostering of homeless pets through local shelters, and a worm composting center.

Hours at the store are 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information about the shop or the free delivery service, call (828) 484-9032, or visit www.luckydogdelivers.com .

Asheville Pet Expo, Apr. 2-3

The first annual Asheville Pet Expo will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center (across from the Asheville Airport) on Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3. Pet owners are invited to shop for products and services all in one place.

The Asheville Pet Expo will include educational sessions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more. Pet products vendors, groomers, veterinarians, rescue organizations, trainers, boarding/day care facilities, dog bakeries, and other vendors will be available.

The Expo runs from 9 AM - 5 PM on Saturday and 11 AM - 5 PM on Sunday. Adult admission is $7, children 6 - 15, $5 each, and children 5 and under are free. (Cash only.)

For more information, visit: http://ashevillepetexpo.com/

Pet Trading Cards

Carolina Mountain Dog just discovered an unusual website/community called Toki Poki. For a "lifetime membership" fee of $30, a member receives 50 trading cards customized to your dog, shipped free plus an online pet profile. In addition, Toki Poki offers a lost-and-found service; if your pet is lost, they'll provide you with an instantly generated poster, as well as send a lost pet alert to your community and veterinarian.

Toki Poki says its pet trading cards have a purpose: You can hand them out to family, friends, and neighbors so they get to know your pets, meet other pets in your neighborhood and online, and maybe start a pet trading card group. Toki Poki also puts together packs of cards for sale on its website. The cards area a way to promote an organization or interest group and potentially raise money.

As a kid, I remember treasuring baseball cards with my favorite players (of course I also liked the bubble gum), so I guess it's not a crazy idea to have a trading card featuring your favorite furry friend!

 

ReTail Scene: Cool Dog Tags on Sale

We've periodically mentioned one of our online retail partners, Dog Tag Art, a company located in Asheville, NC. Dog Tag Art makes the coolest dog tags we've ever seen. They come in hundreds of styles created by artists and are virtually indestructible.

Right now, you can take advantage of a special Winter Sale: Buy 1 tag, and get 1 at 25% off the regular price. This is a great time to get a new tag for any of your four-legged friends -- or your friends' four legged-friends!

Dog Tag Art also has a unique program to keep your pet safe called "Virtual Leash." You can learn more about it at their website.

Visit Dog Tag Art and use the code WINTER10 when you check out to take advantage of this special offer.

Custom Pet Portraits

Alyssa Wood has a veterinary degree, a love of animals, and a lot of artistic talent. She lives in Burlington, Vermont, but creates custom pet portraits from photos and is happy to ship them anywhere.

Alyssa can create a custom pet portrait from a high quality photo you provide within two weeks, using oil paint or oil pastel. Prices start at $175. She did oil paintings of our three dogs and every one captured their personalities and distinct qualities.

For more information, contact Alyssa at amwood@uvm.edu, or call (315) 383-1520

New in Asheville: The Dog Door

Certified dog trainer Kim Brophey recently opened The Dog Door at 15 B Broadway Avenue in Asheville.

The Dog Dor is a Behavior Center that offers professional dog behavior consulting services by appointment, as well as walk-in/private training, from 5 to 6:30 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

The Dog Door also houses the new Doghugger Outfitters, which offers natural and eco-friendly dog supplies, toys, chews and treats, tools, collars/leashes, beds, crates, outdoor gear, and anxiety/hyperactivity treatments. The facility provides a dog welcome center/rest area and indoor lounge during store hours and runs puppy socials.

For more information, visit: www.dogisreal.com/

Save on Great Holiday Gifts for Dog Lovers!

Thanks to our partner advertisers, here are some special deals just in time for holiday gift-giving. Simply click on the links below to take advantage of these special offers, most of which expire 12/31/10.

Barnes & Noble
Save up to 45% off our Holiday Gift Guide!

Cherrybrook
20% off dog & cat collars with code COLLARS20

Dog.com
Save up to 20% OFF Dog Food, Treats, Toys, Crates and more

Dog Tag Art
Buy 3 tags and get 1 tag free. Go to Dog Tag Art and enter the code holiday10 when you check out.

FetchDog
Premium Personalized Nylon Dog Collar $16.75 - 20% Discount + Free Shipping

Magazines.com
$5 off Dog Fancy, Dog World, or Dog's Life magazines using this link:
$5 off Coupon for Magazines.com

Only Natural Pet Store
10% Off All Holiday Themed Gifts at Only Natural Pet Store Exp. 12/31/10. Coupon Code: HOLIDAY

PetSmart
20% off on hundreds of items!
Dog Gifts at PetSmart.com

 

Gift Idea for Dog Lovers: Asheville Doggie Guide

Here's a great holiday gift for anyone who owns a dog in the greater Asheville area (including yourself): A copy of the all new Asheville Doggie Guide!

This guide is your complete resource for dogs in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. It features hundreds of listings for accommodations, adoptions, bakeries, boutiques, boarding, daycare, dog parks, grooming, sitters, therapy, trails, training, vets and more! As a bonus, the guide contains over 50 pages of material from the past year of Carolina Mountain Dog. It's like getting a library of the best information from this blog!

The guide is available exclusively from Asheville Humane Society, and a portion of the sale of every guide supports the care of homeless animals of Buncombe County.

To get your hands on a copy of the Asheville Doggie Guide for just $10.95, get on over to the Asheville Humane Society's Adopt 'n Shop store at the new Adoption & Education Center, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville. It's open Tuesday through Saturday, 12 - 6 PM and conveniently located near the WNC Farmers Market, at the intersection of Brevard Road (Route 191) and Pond Road, right behind Deal Motor Cars.

The guide is also available online in print and as an e-book at: www.ashevilledoggieguide.com .

ReTail Scene: Cyber Monday Deal from Dog Tag Art

TODAY ONLY!

You can get your very own personalized, indestructible dog tag from our friends at Dog Tag Art -- and get another one free.

Simply visit the Dog Tag Art website -- click on the cute little doggie in the right column of this blog under the heading "GOOD BUYS." When you go to the check-out page, enter the coupon code CYBERMONDAY and you'll be elible for the special BUY ONE - GET ONE FREE offer available today only.

Check out all the cool designs now!

ReTail Scene - Lucky Dog Delivers, Asheville

Lucky Dog Delivers is a new delivery service for dog and cat owners that delivers high quality pet food and other products, free of charge in the greater Asheville area.

Deane, owner of Lucky Dog Delivers, says the service grew out of her need to find high quality special food for her Bernese Mountain Dog, Zephyr. While Zephyr is gone now, Deane and her two "canine testers," Rico and Lucy, personally choose every dog food product , ensuring each is "nutritionally advanced and as close to what nature intended as possible." In fact, all of the dog foods sold by Lucky Dog Delivers are on the Whole Dog Journal's list of approved dog foods.

Lucky Dog Delivers offers pet food, treats, and supplements, along with select toys and accessories, even cat litter for the kitties in the household. You can set up deliveries as needed or take advantage of "Recurring Delivery" -- especially convenient if you need dog food delivered on a regular basis (maybe along with a special Treat of the Month). In addition to offering a unique service for dog and cat owners, Deane pledges to donate 9 percent of the company's profits to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and Asheville Humane Society.

For more information or to schedule a delivery, check out the company's website: www.luckydogdelivers.com

 

ReTail Scene: "My Pet Speaker" Sound System for Dogs

Now we've heard everything! My Pet Speaker "transforms yor personal music library into pet-friendly tunes that soothe and relax dogs, cats, horses and their people," according to the maker, Pet Acoustics. This sound system works to eliminate the highs and lows that animals are sensitive to and features a soft bass design for easy listening. It avoids "jarring volumes" and "piercing sounds," according to the manufacturer.

The company also offers the Pet Acoustics iPhone Application, with multiple tracks of music categorized by pet type and environment designed to relax pets. The application is available for $1.99 at the iPhone App Store.

My Pet Speaker is available through Frontgate.com and Amazon.com.

ReTail Scene - Wag! Pet Boutique, Hendersonville

When your travels take you to downtown Hendersonville, NC, be sure to check out Wag!, a unique Pet Boutique located at 231-A N. Main Street. The store carries apparel, beds, toys, collars and leashes, treats, and grooming supplies.

Store hours are Mondays through Saturdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Wag! also operates an online store, available at their website: www.wagpetboutique.com

Top Ten Tips from the Crate Training Pros

A Guest Article by Jessica Bradford, DVM

Training your dog to use a crate is a very useful thing to do. It can help them with toilet training, it gives them a safe place when you have a noisy household, and it stops them chewing up your shoes when you aren’t looking!  It’s not difficult to crate train your dog, and to help you, here are my top 10 crate training tips.

1. Choose the right sized crate for your dog. It may look took big, and be more expensive than a smaller crate, but your dog isn't going to stay a puppy forever. It will save you money in the long term, because you won't have to buy a bigger crate when your dog is an adult.
2. Take your time. Dogs learn at different speeds. Don't rush your dog's training, and it will be less stressful for both of you. Most dogs get there in the end.
3. Use plenty of rewards when you are training your dog to go into their crate. They'll enjoy their training so much more because they have the chance to earn a delicious treat.
4. Make your dog's crate a pleasant place to be. Give them a soft bed (unless they are a chewer!) and put their favorite toys in there. Stuffed Kongs and similar toys will keep them occupied if they have to spend some time alone.
5. Put the crate in the busiest room in your home, so your dog feels like they are part of the action, even when they are crated. If you'r worried about the crate taking up extra space in the living room consider getting dog crate furniture. These crates take up no more room than an end table and actually serve as a piece of furniture.
6. Don't set your crate up next to the heater, or in the way of a cold breeze. Your dog will be more comfortable in the crate if they aren't too hot or too cold.
7. Never leave your dog unattended in their crate with a bone. There is the risk of the bone getting caught in their teeth, or even worse, in their throat. If you dowant to give your dog a bone, make sure you stay close by to keep an eye on them.
8. Look for strangulation risks. If you have curtains, don't put the crate in a position where the cords could dangle inside. Consider taking off your dog's collar while they are in the crate.
9. Feed your dog their meals in the crate, so they associate it with pleasant things and are happy to go in there. Keep an eye out for any spilled food as this could spoil and start to smell bad.
10. Lastly, never ever use the crate as a punishment, or yell and scream at your dog when they are in their crate. If they become anxious, you may have to go right back to the start and teach them to use the crate all over again. Not only that, your dog may become frightened of you, which is not good for your relationship.

Dr. Jessica Bradford is a small animal veterinarian with 20 years experience in private practice, and a contributing writer for www.wooddogcrate.com. She shares her life with four dogs, so she can see first hand the many benefits of crate training.

 

ReTail Scene: Woof Gang Bakery Opens in South Asheville

Woof Gang Bakery, a bakery and specialty shop for dogs, has opened in Biltmore Park at 33 Town Square Boulevard, Suite 140, Asheville, telephone (828) 650-9950.

Woof Gang Bakery sells gourmet dog treats, premium pet foods, and boutique items. The store is part of a franchise that features chandeliers and an all-pink motif.

Woof Gang Bakery also has a store in Cashiers, NC. For more information about Woof Gang Bakery, visit: http://www.woofgangbakery.com/index.asp

Other Asheville dog bakeries include Three Dog Bakery at 21 Battery Park and Waggers Dog Depot at 1020 Merrimon Avenue.

Dog-friendly Black Mountain, NC

Black Mountain is a charming, laid back town east of Asheville, right off Route 40. It's also remarkably dog friendly.

In Black Mountain, you'll find a small but nicely appointed off-leash dog park at the River Walk Park. It is a fenced-in, bark mulched area with shaded seating for owners and a water spigot for dogs. There is also a plastic doggie pool for splashing and cool-downs. It's known primarily to locals but anyone can use it. Just head for the Bi-Lo shopping center on NC 9, gong south out of Black Mountain. Go around the back and to the left of Bi-Lo and you'll see a parking area and the entrance to the dog park.

Another great dog-friendly spot is Lake Tomahawk Park. It's located at 401 S. Laurel Circle Drive, not far from the center of town. This lovely lake has a half-mile flat path all the way around it, perfect for a low-impact walk with your pal (on-leash, please).

While in Black Mountain, be sure to visit Bone-A-Fide Bakery in the heart of town at Cherry Street Square. The bakery features homemade treats and doggie birthday cakes, as well as dog food, soaps and shampoos, collars and leashes, doggie clothing, and gifts. Bone-A-Fide is open Monday 1-6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday 11 AM - 6 PM, and Sunday 1 - 5 PM. For more information, go to  http://visitblackmountain.com/Default.aspx?ItemID=36&TabID=58&uc=info&mode=dir 

 

ReTail Scene - For Dogs on the Go

Pet Trek is a new line of cool products that are for people and dogs on the go. Products include the Traveler, which is designed to hold food and water in two separate compartments, the Walker, with a canteen and pop-off bowl, and the Gear Pack, a backpack designed to carry doggie stuff.

These products look like they're tailor-made for hikes in the Carolina mountains. Check them out at www.pettrek.net.