We have received a few requests for an instructional blog along with some questions about how to use certain pet supplies.  We thought it was a great idea so we are planing on constructing a few "How To" blogs to answer some frequently asked questions.

In this blog, we will describe in detail with photos how to use a dog harness.

If you have never used a dog harness before, it can be quite a jumble! Especially if a section is twisted and you're not sure what leg goes where!  Hopefully this instructional post will help clear things up and save your pup the unnecessary twisting and turning. Please feel free to contact us if you have any more questions regarding dog harnesses or if you have any suggestions for more "how to" posts. 

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle.com

1. First, there are two pieces of hardware to familiarize yourself with. These are:

     Spring is finally here and the weather is starting to get warmer!  There's lots of  outdoor fun and Springtime Pet Fashion to go around here at PetKaboodle.com! 

    Get all of the pet supplies you'll need for enjoying the outdoor sun like our new Pet Top Combo Pack!

The Pet Top can attach to virtually any water bottle for an on-the-go, no mess, portable pet drinking device. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, and the extra adaptor allows you to attach it to even more water bottles, such as short neck eco-friendly bottles.  Check out our Pet Top product listing for a demo video!

     Have multiple dogs who love walking in the spring sun?  How about a 2-way coupler leash or a 3-way coupler leash! 

Now you can walk multiple dogs while only using one leash! There's less hassle and couplers offer more control and less confusion, for a pleasant walk in the park!

 Want some ultra Spring fashion?  Take a look at our new dog nail polish color!
This Bubble Gum pink dog nail polish will show off any prim-pup's Spring fashion sense. Perfect combination with many of our Spring Dog Dresses too!


     The possibilities are endless!  Check out the multitude of Dog Collars, Dog Clothes, Dog Dresses, and Pet Accessories and many more Spring pet supplies and  pet fashion PetKaboodle.com!

Huge 40% off ENTIRE STORE Cyber Monday Sale! Black Friday has passed but Cyber Monday is almost here! Cyber Monday is the busiest on-line shopping day of the year! Stop in to PetKaboodle.com on Monday November 30th from 9am to 5pm EST and enjoy 40% off our ENTIRE STORE!!  Not only are Christmas and Hanukkah themed items on sale, all of your everyday necessity pet supplies are 40% off as well! Every item is on sale for 8 hours only! Don't miss your chance to get all of your pet's necessities and finish all of your pet's holiday shopping at super low prices!  Now's a great time to get everything from dog toys and pet beds to cat collars and even cat harnesses!  But hurry!  This sale won't last!

Get your paws on this season's latest trends!  Stop in to PetKaboodle.com
and save up to 30% off select dog supplies and 10% off all Cat supplies,  Ferret, Small Animal & Bird items! Hurry in to save BIG on pet supplies and pet accessories this summer season
because this sale ends in one week! Sale ends Friday July 3rd 2009. While supplies last.

As everyone knows, shipping costs went up on May 11th.....AGAIN!  Have no fear! We here at PetKaboodle.com always charge correct shipping fees across the United states. We never charge any handling fees, boxing fees or anything extra. Rest assured that when you order from us, you are never over paying on shipping!     Also, remember that every order $100 or more qualifies for Free Shipping no matter what the items in your cart! Watch your countdown bar as it calculates how much is needed to meet your free shipping goal! So stock up on all your favorite pet supplies knowing that you're always saving at PetKaboodle.com!

Oral hygiene is very important to not only humans, but their pets too!  Besides the obvious stinky dog breath and cat breath, your pet's teeth need to remain healthy.  Just like human teeth, pet's teeth can decay and rot causing much pain, discomfort and eventually result in high vet bills for tooth extraction.  Tooth decay can also cause serious illness if not treated properly.  Certain breeds are more prone to poor oral hygiene than others.  Shelties and Yorkies for example tend to have a high rate of tooth decay among other dogs.  It is very important to keep up with your pet's teeth.  Daily brushing coupled with the right food and dog treats or cat treats can come a long way for a healthy smile!  Some owners may  not have the time to brush their pets teeth every day but there are other methods to keeping your pet's teeth healthy.  Dry food in your pets diet cleans teeth as they chew and helps rid teeth of plaque and buildup.  The same goes for "crunchy" dog treats and cat treats.  There is also a myriad of dog toys that aid in the health of your pets oral hygene too!  Your dog can play and clean their teeth at the same time!  Any hard rubber toys with nubs or rope tugs are great for cleaning teeth.  As for cats, feline greenies along with other crunchy treats and food can help keep teeth strong and healthy.  An all wet food diet can be detrimental to pet's teeth so be sure to always include a bit of "crunch" to their mealtime.  But what about when the breath of your cat or dog smells?  Try some oral breath sprays, daily brushing, or minty rope bones and dental treats.  With frequent use of these essential pet supplies you can keep your pets teeth healthy and pain free! Time for some happy, healthy smiles! =D

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle.com
 

So tomorrow we here at PetKaboodle are doing our first show, actually it's a craft fair.  Although I've personally worked many trade shows in the past I don't think I've ever even been to a craft fair before.  But it's really all about getting our name out there, and we're pretty sure we're going to be the only pet boutique retailer at the show so we should (hopefully) stand out a bit.  The tough thing is deciding what to bring.  Our cat apparel is a definite along with pet jewelry and dog apparel, but when we get to the trickier stuff like dog beds and dog harnesses I'm just not sure what counts as being "crafty" enough for a craft fair.  We're still planing on bringing some things that barely pass as crafty such as our Cranberry Mint Perfume grooming spray because we still need something to offer people when they tell us that their dog smells LOL!  Now that we've got our signs made and out banner stand made (tactfully out of PVC) we can spend tomorrow - well I guess that would be today now - getting last minute details in order.  Then Sunday we can discover if all our hard work will pay off and if we can get our pet supplies to fit in well enough at a craft fair!   I'm thinking our pet jewelry will probably be one of our biggest sellers on Sunday... but time will tell.  If anyone reading this is interested in attending and meeting us in person, the details on the fair are below:

Date:	Sunday, March 8, 2009
Time:	11:00am - 5:00pm
Location:	THE HOLIDAY INN OF "PLAINVIEW"
Street:	215 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
City/Town:	Plainview, NY

Hope to see you there!

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle.com
 

     Outdoors can be a cruel and dangerous place for an unattended cat.  "Possum", a 2yr old domestic cat was trapped on Friday night around 9pm and shot 27 times with an air rifle at point-blank range in the head and mouth.  Luckily, he survived but not without huge vet bills and emotional stress.  
     Yes, the finger can be pointed at the cruel humans that maliciously harm animals but why not question the cat owners themselves?  No one should purposely injure an animal but outdoor cats can also be considered "pests" to some, similar to rats, mice, roaches, etc.  They trespass on other homeowners properties, sometimes destroying their lawns, ponds etc.  These homeowners spend the time and money to upkeep their home and possessions and train their own pets to respect this property only to have someone else's cat continue to destroy it.  Now, in no way should they harm the cat, the proper thing a citizen should do who finds themselves with a "pesky" cat would be to take it to the nearest animal shelter, or bring it back to the destination on the cat's tag to confront the owners about the cat's behavior.  But keep in mind, some humans are not so polite as proved in the case of "Possum".
     Cats are domesticated pets and should not be left out to roam on their own.  They can get into dangerous and even fatal substances and situations forcing owners to pay substantial vet bills.  Antifreeze is a popular killer of outdoor cats along with being hit by a car, wild animal attacks, accidental trapping, and human cruelty.  It is unsafe not only for your cat but can be for the humans they come in contact with.  If you have children, an outdoor cat can also bring in disease, fleas an any other dangerous substances they have come in contact with, therefore transmitting it to your child when he/she pets the cat.  The only way to keep your loving pet safe is in your own home and on your own property where you can monitor what they eat and play with. 
     There are many pet supplies to help you provide a comfortable environment for your cat.  If you feel your cat needs to roam the outdoors, there are cat harnesses and cat leashes that allow owners to take their cats for a safe walk as well as pet strollers.  Take advantage of these items to keep your pet and faimly healthy and safe.

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle

Michelle Obama told People Magazine that the family is considering a Portuguese Water Dog for the new family pet.  There are many concerns about this choice.  Portuguese water dogs are a less popular breed and there is fear that the popularity and demand for the dog will increase for the general public. This could cause many puppy mills to sprout up and an incresase abandoned animals in this already poor economy.  Portugese water dogs are not for everyone and certainly may not be the best choice for first time dog owners. They were bred centuries ago to help fishermen along the Portugal coast, working as couriers, retrieving nets and diving for fish. They are working dogs who love the outdoors.  Although they are good for people with allergies, one of which is Malia Obama, age 10, they require much attention and excersize as well as frequent grooming with the proper dog grooming supplies.  They are the type of dog that will entertain itself with bad behaviour you don't want if they do not receive the proper puppy training and the exercise this specific breed needs. Of corse, there are many responsible pet owners who properly care for this specific breed.  The Obamas have the resources and space to properly train an exercise any pet of their choosing.  Even though the decision still is not final, with dedication, disipline, the right pet supplies and dog grooming supplies, anyone can have a happy healthy pet reguardless of the breed.

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle.com

There's a bunch of dog training options out there. Some work, some don't. It all depends on the specific needs of each dog.  The most common form of dog training is the collar.  While most owners use regular quick release nylon dog collars or buckled nylon collars, a lot of the time your pet can easily escape if they figure out how to move just right.  For these types of "stubborn" dogs it is best to use training collars.  There are many types of training collars.  Two of the most popular are the martingale collars and prong collars. 

The martingale collars are mostly made for sight hounds because their heads are smaller than their necks.  These martingale collars are similar to choker chains but are made mostly of nylon.  They are more comfortable but most importantly, safer than choker collars.  The martingale collars expand and contract but only to a certain point.  They feature a safety that only allows the collar to get so small. Choker chains do not have a limit and therefore can constrict the windpipe of your pet causing injury. 

Prong collars, also known as Pinch collars are similar to the martingale collars in that they have the same safety feature.  However, these are much more heavy duty and are meant for use on more assertive and aggressive dogs.  The prongs simulate a bite and "pinch" the neck when the collar is pulled taught.  These collars are excellent for correcting bad behavior in larger and more assertive dogs.  No worries though, these prongs will not puncture the skin and many are available with rubber tips for extra comfort.

When armed with the right pet supplies, it makes dog training that much easier!
~Your Friends at PetKaboodle

Safety during travel with pets is very important along with all the pet supplies needed during your excursion. When you travel with pets in the car, it is always very important for the safety of you as well as your pet to be buckled up.  Travel with pets becomes very dangerous when they are allowed to roam the car.  Pets do not understand the concentration needed while driving and may sometimes be a distraction that could cause an accident.  For comfort and safety during travel with pets, using a safety dog harness or pet car seat is always best. Some pet carriers also have easy seat belt attachment for added safety.  Some concern travel with pets in the car many have is pet hair on the upholstery.  In these cases, you can protect your car seats with travel blanket seat covers or individual bucket seat covers. 

When the travel with pets is lengthy, it is always good to have a travel kit for your pet.  Some of the items your kit should include are travel bowls for food and water, toys for entertainment or even pet beds for a good night's rest.  Oh, and dont forget to take your pooper scooper ;)

Travel with pets can be fun! It doesn't  have to be a hassle when you have the right pet supplies to help!

~Your Friends at PetKaboodle.com

PetKaboodle.com's grand opening sale will be beginning in just a few short hours! The excitement here is palpable as everyone is running around getting last minute items arranged and finalized. Some of us here think we may have gone a little nuts by over discounting our items, but we want this sale to be big and BIG it will be! Here are the sales we're running and how to get involved:

First the entire store is being marked down by 10% and all items qualify for free shipping.

Next anyone who is a fan of our PetKaboodle Facebook Page will be able to take an additional 10% off.

Also, if you sign up for our newsletter you can get an additional 10% off one purchase on top of all of that!

And that's not all! - just for reading our blog and knowing about our company you can get yet another 10% off!

That's 40% savings plus free shipping on the ENTIRE STORE!!

Alright, so if you want the promo code from here, you have to work for it a little (don't worry this won't hurt much).
The promo code is:
(The first four letters of our company name) + (The sum of all the digits in our phone number) + (The number of founding members of the company) + (The number of years we have been selling pet supplies).

Here's an example -
If our name was "A Company", with a phone number of (555)555-5555, started by 1 person and had been selling for 9 years the code would be: acom5019

If you get stuck shoot us an email at blog@petkaboodle.com

Alright, that's it for now! Get in there and get your 40% off plus free shipping! This sale isn't going to last long! (It all ends March 8th).

Thanks to all of you who have given us your thoughts and feedback on improving the site. We want PetKaboodle.com to be your #1 pet supply store! So, based on this, we have added a more visible and immediate way you can get in contact with us. We have added our phone number ((631) 292-9153) and, more importantly, a live chat to our website. Now, if you have a question, concern or problem, anywhere on our site, --or just wanna let us know what a great job we're doing ;-)-- simply click the "live chat" button at the bottom of the screen. Then enter your name, email, and question and we will do our best to answer your question on the spot! If we're not around, it will tell you that we're offline and it will submit your question/comment to us automatically via email and we will get back to you as soon as we possibly can. In general we should be around to answer both phone calls and live chat requests from 9am - 5pm EST Mon - Fri. Chances are pretty good that someone will be around on weekends and off hours also. So if you've got a question, don't hesitate to call, email or send us a live chat message! Rest assured that we will have an actual person (We know... a novel idea) answer your phone calls, live chat questions, emails, or voice messages as quickly and accurately as possible.

You ask for it - we listen and do our best to provide it!

Speaking of us doing our best to meet your requests and continuously adapting our business to better fit you, we have created a Facebook page at your request. If you're on Facebook, please feel free to join us as you will be able to connect with other PetKaboodle users. (PetKateers? PetKaboodelers? hmm... we'll need to come up with a good term for you guys... We got it! Why not let you - our users - come up with a name for yourselves? We can hold a vote for it! Visit our Facebook discussion board and send us your ideas! We will post the winner after the grand opening event! (There may even be a surprise in it for you ;-D). Another great advantage to joining our Facebook page is, not only will we organize events though Facebook, but we will also periodically have Facebook promotions and discounts exclusively for our Facebook fans. --There - did we make enough links to our Facebook page?<-- there's one more =)-- Well that's about all for now - back to building PetKaboodle.com, the future of pet supplies.

We work hard keeping your pets happy!

Wow almost 3 years into the creation of PetKaboodle.com now and we've finally decided to start a blog!

We have chosen this to be our most informal voice. A spot where we can let you know the inside scoop on whats going on @ PetKaboodle, and you can let us know what your thinking, ask us questions about your pets, our site, pet products, or anything else related! As PetKaboodle.com is now finally launched (HURRAY!) perhaps it's a good time to back fill in some information for anyone that wants to know what we're all about.

The two founding members of PetKaboodle are:
President/CEO - Brian Riley
and
Vice President - Christina Riley

They came up with the initial idea of PetKaboodle.com in the summer of 2006. They loved pets and with Brian's skills in both software development and business, and Christina's skills in Art, animaton, and experience as a dog groomer (at a well known national pet chain we won't mention here), establishing a business doing what they both love seemed to be the logical thing to do.

One of the early founding decisions was that all of the currently available shopping carts lacked much of the functionality we wanted to include in what would some day become PetKaboodle.com. Adding our desired features on to these shopping carts would still leave our site with a "cookie cutter" feel, and Brian felt he wanted to know intimately what was going on behind the scenes. So the decision was made to write the store entirely from scratch!

In January of 2007, six months into the development of the site, we decided to bring in a little additional income to support our development efforts and especially to begin establishing a customer base. stores.ebay.com/PetKaboodle was born and we began officially selling pet supplies.

We kept in stock a modicum of inventory during the following 2 years of website developement and kept the company profitable with a growing customer base all the while keeping our eye on the ball of getting PetKaboodle.com to become a major player in the pet supplies market.

Finally after years of hyping the eventual comming of PetKaboodle.com, our website went live at 1:30am EST on January 18th, 2009.

This however is only the beginning of what we have planned for PetKaboodle.com. Right now we are working on listing our first major order, so within the next 1 - 2 weeks we will be listing over 500 new items!

We have tons of new features that will be added to our site in the comming months. The one we are the most proud of will revolutionize the way you find products on websites! But, more on that later...

In the meantime - welcome to the beginning of the future of pet supplies.
Welcome to PetKaboodle.com
We work hard keeping your pets happy!