It’s raining cats & dogs!  And, speaking of reining dogs, this month is the annual Haute Dogs Easter Parade in Belmont Shore.  The current royalty -- Queen Bianca the Maltese and King Pudge the French Bulldog -- will crown their successors at the conclusion of the 2005 Haute Dog Easter King and Queen contest that will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Palm Sunday, March 20 at Livingston Park in Belmont Shore (same time/location at the Easter Sunday parade). The winners will then lead the fifth annual Haute Dog Easter Parade down Second Street in Belmont Shore on Easter Sunday, March 27.  If you haven’t seen or participated in the parade, you are really missing out!
Wiskers will be hosting a post parade Yappy Hour at the Belmont Shore store.  Feel free to stop by.  We’ll have treats for everyone that comes in and wants to mingle.
In addition, don’t forget that another set of holidays are upon us and Wiskers has plenty of gift items for your loved ones.  New stock has been arriving daily.  Whether it’s treats and biscuits for the canine’s and felines, stuffed animals for that special Easter basket, or a statue or clock for your mom on Mother’s Day, make Wiskers your place to shop!

Your Friends,
Jim & Scott

Oh, by the way, if you were looking for unique gifts for your friends or family or had a friend who was, are we the store you would refer them to?  As long as we can keep getting your referrals, we don’t have to spend time finding new customers and we can do a better job helping you.  Drop us a note and tell us what you think.  We are never too busy to help any of your referrals.

A Breed Apart

Employing a clever blend of composition and caricature, master sculptor Grant Palmer has created “A Breed Apart” dog and cat collectibles.  Embracing humor and true-to-life poses, he captures the unique personality of each breed in handcrafted sculptures. Grant plays off of the fun characteristics of each breed in creating these whimsical characters. Pet lovers of all kinds are sure to find these characters truly irresistible.  Notice the exaggerated features, large feet, elongated bodies, etc.  Very comical collectibles!  Made of resin, “A Breed Apart” is a terrific gift for any occasion.  A free customized name tag, engraved with your pet's name, and collar are also available with the return of the registration card enclosed with your gift.
Wiskers is happy to add these unique gifts to our collection.

Allen Clocks

As you may know, Scott and I search hard to find unique handmade items for the stores.  During this search, we met Michelle Allen and her husband Gary several years ago and knew that it was an instant match.  Michelle Allen is a wonderful artist from Southwest Washington State and makes beautiful, whimsical clocks.  We have carried her line of clocks at Wiskers® ever since we met.  Michelle loves the imperfect, slightly eccentric, witty quality of the world around her. Often if something seems too perfect, she will skew it towards the unrealistic to capture the essence of a whim. Her hope is that her art will never become so serious that she betrays the uniqueness that inspires her. Since 1993 she’s illustrated several gift books, but the majority of her art takes on the functional forms of handmade mirrors and clocks. She and Gary enjoy the opportunity to work closely together in their business while spending time with their two daughters, Alexis and Jessica and their dog, Parker.

Full Moon Paw Reading

Thursday, March 10, 2005 4 PM – 8 PM
Belmont Shore Store

This is one of the best events we have at the stores.  Stephanie Brown, Animal Communicator, will be at the store to help you better understand your little ones and provide you with insight into their deepest thoughts.  If you have ever watched The Pet Psychic on Animal Planet and wondered if someone could actually “talk to the animals”, this is the time to check it out.  Call for a reservation.  Space fills up fast!

Gentle Dental - SOLD OUT

Friday, March 18, 2005 10 AM to 6 PM
Belmont Shore

Anesthesia-free dental cleaning for your pets.  Space fills up quickly.  Make sure you call for an appointment today.  The next date will be April 15.  Reserve your space early.

Sidewalk Sale

March 11 - 13, 2005 10 AM – 6 PM
March 12 Pancake Breakfast
March 13 Health Fair
Belmont Shore

Come to Belmont Shore and experience the shopping pleasure.  Many of the stores have specials during the sidewalk sales.  Stroll the streets and shop for bargains!  While you are at it, stop by and say hello!

Gooby Trunk Sale

Saturday, March 12 – 11 AM – 4 PM
Huntington Beach Store

Gooby Fashions have been a hit at the stores and now we’re having a trunk sale!  Stock up on all of your favorite fashions.  We’ll have sweaters, jackets, shirts, and more.  Come and see the selection.

Haute Dog Easter Parade

Sunday, March 27 – 1 PM – 4 PM

Haute Dog Easter Parade, 2:30 p.m., sidewalks of 2nd St. between Park and Nieto. Additional activities at Livingston Park (4900 E. Livingston Dr. @ Park Ave). $10 donation for first dog in the family; $5 each additional dog; $5 for low-income individuals. REGISTRATION & YAPPY HOUR from 1-2 p.m. Preliminary judging begins at 2 p.m. PRIZES for Best Easter Outfits and Best Bonnet. AWARDS CEREMONY immediately after the parade. Details at www.HauteDogs.org.

After the Parade

Wiskers® Yappy Hour
March 27 – 4 PM – 5 PM

Stop by the store after the parade.  Refreshments and treats for everyone!

Dear Chuck

I keep trying to make subtle suggestions to my people on their landscaping.  Nothing major, just some plant rearrangements, a place to hide my bones, a hole for sprinkler water to collect for drinking.  Unfortunately, they don’t seem to understand the concept.  Can you help?

Diggin’ it in Downey

Dear Diggin’ – Toby, Etta, and I used to have the same problem.  Etta would dig a hole for proper placement of our bones, and dad would holler and fill it in.  We run around the back yard to make a great running path, dad would holler about us killing the grass.  Finally, dad saw the light and decided to do something different.

When you have a house with pets, you need to think about things differently.  Naturally, pets are going to want to romp in the yard, dig holes, bark at passersby and drink from whatever water source is available.  Instead of suppressing these activities, embrace them and work them into your garden plan.  Suppressing them doesn’t mean that you can’t have a nice yard or garden, it only means that you need to think like your pet.

Let me explain.  Charlie wants to go out to go relieve himself.  Does that mean he has permission to relieve himself anywhere he wants?  Not if he has a designated toilet area and you take the time to train him where it’s acceptable to go and where it’s not.  Set aside a special place in the yard for that purpose.  Cover the area with something that’s easy to clean and that will appeal to Charlie.  Flagstone, pea gravel, bricks, and cedar chips are all good choices.  Even more special, give Charlie a special marking post to help him define his territory.  Use a log, a piece of driftwood, or even plant a designated tree.  Charlie will thank you for it!

One big issue with my dad is his complaining about dirty paws tracking mud into my house.  If you think creatively, you can begin to think about creating an area between the yard and the doorway where the dogs can wipe their feet, so to speak.  Place down a gravel or bark separation that will allow your dog time to get the mud off their feet before coming into the house.

What about that dog run?  You know your pets need exercise.  What better way than to create this as a part of your landscape.  Set aside a two to three foot perimeter around your yard and allow them to not only have a place to run, but also have a chance to perform their valuable job of patrolling the perimeter.  Lay down a pathway of cedar chips or pea gravel.  Make it something that your dog will enjoy walking on.  You can even create a screen in front of the path and shield part of the pathway.  That way, your dog will feel like they have a secret place in the yard to play hide and seek.

If you want to keep your dog from running through your plantings, make sure to plant dense plants and keep them in tight clusters.  Dogs tend to stay out from dense plantings.  You might want to consider planting in raised beds or on mounds as well.  And, you should generally start with larger size plants (1 gallon or greater), which tend to be hardier.  Be sure to avoid planting thorny and spiny plants, such as cactus.  Think about what it would be like to have to run through these areas.  Other plants to avoid include some common ones:

Click Here for a list of non-poisonous plants.

Dogs love to lie in the sun and soak up the rays.  Make sure there’s a nice patch of grass or a nice deck on which to lounge.  If you are in a sunny area, you’ll want to make sure that they also have a nice shady place.  Dogs overheat easily, so, make sure that there’s somewhere for them to cool down.  They love to enjoy space around your arbors or umbrellas, but, if you really want to go all out, get them a house of their own.  They really like that!

A typical problem that we dogs face in the garden is digging.  Naturally, we like to dig and having a space suited for this need is a great garden addition.  If there is any place where we may be allowed to dig, you should encourage it (and only in that place).  Many people build a digging box for their dog. Place the box in an area that is cool in summer and warm in winter.

To teach the dog to dig only in the box, place or bury toys or treats (sliced hotdogs, for example) in the box.  Encourage the dog to dig up the toy or treat.  Praise the dog. Repeat until the dog willingly jumps in and digs.  Watch the dog.  When it starts to dig in any other place, quickly go out and take your dog to its box.  Show it (by digging yourself), that it should dig in its box. 

To deter boredom, place several toys/treats in the box before you leave for work.  The dog will spend its time digging in the correct place rather than digging up your roses.  You can also sprinkle animal essence (available at hunting supplies places).

Remember that dogs like to dig in freshly turned earth.  So get out that shovel and turn the dirt over in the digging box every now and then.  Toss in some fresh dirt. Keep a close eye on freshly planted areas, as they will be very attractive (bury some extra hotdogs in the digging box when you are putting down new plants).

Finally, think about add a nice water feature that’s pet friendly.  A small wading pond, a stream, or even a water fountain will provide for your pet’s enjoyment.

We would like to welcome Dr. Greg Perrault, DVM, to the Long Beach pet community.  Dr. Perrault recently took over the operation of Cats Animal Hospital at 627 Redondo Avenue.  Dr. Perrault has expanded the practice and it’s now known as Cats & Dogs Animal Hospital.  Dr Perrault specializes in small animal care.  Scott and I have taken Etta to see him on several occasions and he’s been great with her.  Knowing how important referrals are, we want to make sure our customers know that Dr. Perrault is in town and is there to help you with your needs.