In such a volatile and fragile economic environment, the consumers’ normal tendency is to cut back on spending.

But in doing so, many people do not realize that they often end up buying a lesser quality product, which ultimately has to be replaced more often than if they had invested in higher valued (and often better quality- after all, there is great truth in the expression “you get what you pay for”…) merchandise.

The wise thing to do is to look for a few criteria when purchasing any item, including pet products.

Functionality, quality, safety, durability, price and of course style.

Whiner and Diner is a pet product company which puts high value on all of the above.

Their wine crate Eco-luxury dog and cat accessories are functional, high quality, durable, safe and healthy for pets. Because they are expertly hand-crafted out of reclaimed wooden wine crates, they are indeed stylish and Eco-friendly to boot.

They simply offer great value and are made in the USA.

Check out the Whiner and Diner pet toy boxes in any color, but red or green would make a great Holiday gift for any wine and pet lover.

And why not fill it with cute, pet toys to complete the ultimate Christmas gift.

And let’s not forget our less fortunate furry friends: the US economy is in dire straits, and too many pets are paying the price. The raising number of abandoned dogs and cats is becoming overwhelming. Our shelters are filling up with “foreclosure pets”, given up by owners affected by the economic turmoil.

“Sorry, I can’t pay my mortgage, I can’t take care of my kids, I can’t take care of my dog…Please, take care of him…” reads a note attached to a dog tied to a shelter’s front door. This is just heartbreaking!

But we can all help: donate what you can (pet food, clothing, toys, etc…) to your local shelter, visit The Human Society to find out how you can help them.

And if you are thinking about giving a pet as a Chritmas gift to a friend or a family member, please don’t!!! Unless it has been discussed with the gift recipient, it is not a good idea! Too many Christmas Pets end up in shelters after the Holiday Season.

Instead, give a Pet Adoption certificate from you local shelter , along with a book about animal care and training, and let them decide…Hopefully, they will rescue a dog or cat from the shelter.

There are many ways to help restore our economy. And refueling it by spending our money is one of them! We just need to do it wisely!

By: Catherine Simms
Posted:

When it comes time to do your holiday shopping, you don’t want to forget your furry family members. After all, your puppy has hopefully been pretty good all year around (and not chewed too much stuff!) and he or she should be rewarded with gifts too. In fact, some dogs can even learn how to unwrap presents on their own, which will make for great Christmas photos. Of course, like with anyone else on your list, this means you need to decide what to buy. You have many options, but dog clothing is often a great choice.

Why Buy Dog Clothing for Christmas

Dog clothing is a functional holiday gift that will last longer than toys, which tend to get chewed on and discarded as your dog either destroys them or becomes bored with them. Dog clothing, on the other hand, can last a lot longer and your dog can get years of wear out of the outfits you buy.

When you buy clothing for your dog for Christmas, you can also choose whether you want to make the clothing fun or functional, giving you more versatility in your Christmas shopping. For instance, you can choose a Christmas or holiday themed outfit for your dog, or you can choose an outfit that is great the whole year round.

When you pick out a Christmas or holiday themed outfit, you have a great opportunity: the chance for a photo op with your holiday pup. Many people take pictures of their dogs in Christmas or holiday costumes and then use those pictures as Christmas cards or on a special Christmas or holiday calendar. Pictures of each Christmas with your dog dressed up in a cute new outfit can also be great for the scrapbook and help you to commemorate the wonderful holiday times you have together with your family and your puppy.

Of course, there are plenty of other options for dog clothing besides holiday themed outfits. You might, for example, consider getting rain gear for your dog. You don’t like to get wet or go out without a raincoat, and there’s a good chance your dog doesn’t either. With a new water resistant outfit, your dog’s fur will stay drier and you can both enjoy your walks more.

For those snow winter months, a sweater and some shoes or boots can be the best answer. They will keep your dog warm during the icy months, making it possible for your dog to go out on a walk without shivering and getting too cold. This is especially useful for small dogs and dogs with thin fur who are susceptible to changes in temperature and who might not be very comfortable in a chilly climate.

No matter what your holiday plans are and whether you wish to get a fun costume or a practical outfit, clothing for your dog is a great gift that you will enjoy throughout the rest of the year. Make sure to put the perfect dog clothing on your Christmas gift list this holiday season.

By: Margherite Cermak
Posted:

When it comes to what we want for Christmas, it’s easy enough to write out a wish list. Did you know that your dog has a wish list too? Your favorite pooch wants dog clothing for Christmas and here are 10 somewhat humorous reasons why.

10. Brrr…it’s cold outside! Shorthaired, small dogs often need a little extra layer to warm the blood. Dog clothes can help keep your pal from becoming a dogsicle this winter and nobody wants that.

9. Because dog clothes look cool. Whether it’s a Santa suit or a cute sweater, dog clothing just make the dog, like clothes make the man. Your dog can show off his threads after Christmas and strut his stuff.

8. She wants to make the other dogs jealous. Fluff across the street is bound to be jealous of the stylin’ new threads your dog is sporting out in the neighborhood. Watch her as she struts her stuff and shows off the goods, then pay attention as the other dogs drool in envy.

7. He looks good in sweaters. It’s a simple fact — some look good in sweaters and some should never even attempt to wear them. Your dog, though, looks great. He should be proud and show off his ability to rock the knitwear.

6. Dog clothing is better than coupons to the dog groomer. ‘Nuff said.

5. The same goes for a trip to the vet. Yay dog clothes…any dog clothes.

4. The choices on the website are just too darn cute. A tiny canine Santa suit is definitely squeal-worthy and easy to imagine the rest of the family’s reaction of “awwww” on Christmas morning when your best furry buddy is running around in the new threads.

3. Because cats won’t wear sweaters and your dog will. It’s one of his ways of silently offering his undying love and affection in a manner in which a cat never would be willing to. You might manage to get a sweater on your cat but chances are you won’t live to tell the tale. You can do the same with your dog and not only will he be happy and loving, he will give you a kiss then spring away to show off the new duds.

2. Clothes can showcase your dog’s personality. Perhaps your petite pooch is a diva…an outfit specially designed for a small princess pup can show off her royal demeanor. A great sweater or dress that fits her is a much better idea than your own sweater.

And the number one reason your dog wants clothing this year for Christmas is…

1. Just because. You don’t really need a good reason when you have such a great selection of dog clothing to choose from.

By: Lisa Mason
Posted:

Having difficulty finding Zhu Zhu Pets? Across the country shelves of local stores are without stock of the hot Zhu Zhu pets hamsters. If you’re one of those hoping to get ahold of a Zhu Zhu hamster for your child this holiday season, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you are not without help either! Here are a few surefire tips to help you find the best Zhu Zhu pet, at the best possible price, in time for Christmas Eve.

Forget Your Local Toy/Big Box Store: Unless you have “a friend” inside one of your local stores who’s willing to pick up a few Zhu Zhu hamsters for you, you will probably face many back and forth trips to different stores in am attempt to get the Zhu Zhu pet(s) / play set of your choice. Not only that, but in the unlikely event you do find an Zhu Zhu hamster pet or accessory without any help, it may not be what you want, especially if it is one of the more popular Zhu Zhu Pets available.

If You Insist on Searching Through You Local Store: Call ahead and / or make friends with some of the people who run the store’s toy department. Ask around and find out how often Zhu Zhu Pets shipments are likely appear, what day(s) they occur, and when the Zhu Zhu Pets are unpacked and placed on the sales floor. If you can get all of this information, then you may actually have a pretty good chance of finding the Zhu Zhu Pets you want. However, even getting the smallest bits of such information can be like pulling teeth; as most stores have a policy that forbids employees from releasing such valuable information out of fairness to other customers. If anything, you would be lucky to get any indication of when the next Zhu Zhu shipment might arrive, and how many days in advance you should plan to camp outside of the store waiting for them to arrive.

Shop Online: Unless you enjoy driving around all day looking for that one hamster your child really really wants, then it’s time to check online for your hamster. At last count there were more than 1,000,000 web pages related to Zhu Zhu pets on the web. A good chunk of these sites sell Zhu Zhu Pets and accessories. This makes for an abundant supply available for purchase right at your fingertips. The only issue: finding the Zhu Zhu Pets you want, especially the Zhu Zhu hamsters, for anything less than 2x to 3x (or more) the retail price is currently very difficult. If a certain Zhu Zhu Pet is one of, if not the, toy your child “really really wants” this Christmas, you may have no choice but to pay a bit extra for that one special Zhu Zhu. Although it does not seem to be all that great an option at first, when you look at how much energy and time is wasted in your search through the local stores, a few extra dollars spent with an online merchant for the exact Zhu Zhu Pet your child wants is offset by the lost time and dollars that are saved by not having to go searching each and every store.

There you have it: Your best three options for finding that elusive Zhu Zhu pet and/or Zhu Zhu playset in time for Christmas. Time to get shopping (on-line!)

By: Renee Calis
Posted:

List Price:
Price: $ 9.99

A kid’s product known as Pillow Pets are one of the top selling children’s products for 2009 and thus far in 2010. As a matter of fact so many parents purchased them as Christmas gifts for their kids this past year, they were sold out in many stores and online as well.

What really causes these toys so special? At first glance, it seems similar to any normal cute stuffed toy to parents. But, the special thing about Pillow Pets is that they could pop open into pillows that kids can utilize to relax or snooze on. This is why the product is known as a Pillow Pet.

This is done using Velcro straps. If you undo the Velcro belt, the Pillow Pet will automatically pop open and become a pillow. To return it back into a plush toy again, you just reconnect the Velcro belt.

Through this dual role and a commercial that has a catchy theme song, many children have asked their parents for one. I have heard of many parents becoming bothered because their children were singing the Pillow Pets tune that goes, “It’s a pillow. It’s a pet. It’s a Pillow Pet.” too many time.

A mother of two in San Diego was the original inventor of the Pillow Pets. The reason was that she was tired of her young children leaving their stuffed toys all around their rooms and the home. So she was determined she was making a stuffed toy that was also a function item. She later came up with the concept that it will be a pillow.

Because of this, she ended up setting up a millionaire dollar industry and Pillow Pets are being sold in stores countrywide. The initial product line only contained six various animals but it has now grown to over thirty various Pillow Pets. In addition, complementary items including backpacks, blankets, slippers and also storybooks were released due to the initial success.

Pillow Pets comes in two different sizes. The large sized ones are 18 inches wide while the small ones are 11 inches. The big Pillow Pets typically sell for about however the rare ones that tend to be sold out have selling for much more on websites such as eBay.

By: KenRose
Posted:

Question by foolnomore2games: Where to find unusual Little Pet Shop toys?
My seven year old is obsessed with the Little Pet Shop toys. She has many of them and is getting more for Christmas. I already have several of them bought for her. However most of the ones she has are the ones you see all over. She is starting to show more interest in the more unique ones now but I can not seem to find them anywhere. Even like the monkey.We bought her friend one for her birthday about a month ago.She asked me to buy her it then but they were all over the place and I didnt get it that day. Now I feel really bad because she really wants the monkey and I cant seem to find it in any of our local stores. She also wants the butterfly, the chinchilla and many more. Can you help give me ideas on where to find them?

Best answer:

Answer by Donnie
ebay

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by picable

Question by On My Own: How do I know my dog’s clothing size?
My dog is a maltese puppy and weighs about 4-5lbs. How do I know exactly what size clothes will fit him? My family keeps asking his size because they want to buy him stuff for halloween and christmas. A lot of the clothes I see are labled xxs, xs, s, m, etc. How do I know if he fits an xx small, an xsmall, or just a small? He’s not very big, but has poofy fur that might require a bigger size shirt.

Best answer:

Answer by мєясєdєѕ ☺
Well sizes vary for each store. You should check the store you are buying your costume for’s sizing chart. Here’s an idea…

If your dog weighs:

2-3 lbs., order size EXTRA TINY

4-7 lbs., order size TINY

8-15 lbs., order size TOY

16-25 lbs., order size SMALL

26-40 lbs., order size MEDIUM

41-75 lbs., order size LARGE

76-115 lbs., order size EXTRA LARGE

116-140 lbs., order size GIANT

141-200 lbs., order size EXTRA GIANT

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by ><>MaY<><: Is it wierd for a 14 year old to play with Littlest Pet Shop toys?
I have a few and i love them! for christmas i want the whirl around playground but if i ask for it i know my parents are going to laugh in my face and say im to old to be playing with playsets!

Best answer:

Answer by amber d
Na Im 20 and I still like Barbies

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Question by Mama Dukes: What is a good age for the Littlest Pet Shop toys?
My daughter seems to love them when she sees them in stores. I have been reluctant to buy her any since I am afraid she will lose the small parts and they are so expensive. She will be turning 3 right before Christmas. Should I buy her some?

Best answer:

Answer by pdooma
My son has a few and they have a lot of little parts. You might look for them at the goodwill or garage sales to find just the bigger pieces?

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